Taiwan Updates Safety Needs

The Taiwanese Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection (BSMI) has had a safety requirement for textile and apparel products, CNS 15290 – Safety of Textiles (General Requirements), since 2009. This standard was updated in September 2013 and now includes the restriction of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) in textile products(1).

CNS 15290 – Safety of Textile (General Requirements)

Textile and apparel products that are imported into, manufactured or sold in Taiwan are required to comply with a mandatory inspection regime, which is based on the requirements outlined in CNS 15290. The Commodity Inspection Marks are then required to be placed on the products, hangtags or other packaging materials(2).

Related to the latest CNS 15290 safety requirements, the BSMI has announced and established standard testing methods for alkylphenol ethoxylated (APEO) residues in textile products and also free and hydrolysed formaldehyde content in textile products.

• CNS 15579 – Textiles – Determination of surfactant – Alkylphenol ethoxylates.
• CNS 15580-1 – Textiles – Determination of formaldehyde – Part 1: Free and hydrolysed formaldehyde (Water extraction method).

References:

• BSMI New Release (in Chinese) and The National Standards of the Republic of China (CNS).
• SGS SG No 067/11.

(For details, visit: www.sgs.com/softlines.)