If your business supplies leather and textile children’s products to South Korea, then you need to be aware of the recent change made by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) to the following safety standards documents:
- Safety Standards of Supplier’s Conformity Annex 15 – Textile Products for Children
- Safety Standards of Supplier’s Conformity Annex 1 – Leather Products for Children
Of note, the most significant changes included the amendments on the safety requirements of harmful substances, which are due to come into force from 31st January 2018.
Children’s Textile Products (Annex 15)
Safety Standards of Supplier’s Conformity Annex 15 applies to all textile products for children between 36 months and 13 years of age.
Summary of changes to the safety requirements of harmful substances:
| Change | Restricted Substances | Material tested | Children (≥ 36 months to ≤ 13 years of age) |
| Addition of total cadmium requirement | Total Cadmium (New) | Coating, printing, plastic, metal, other materials (such as wood) except textiles | ≤ 75 mg/kg |
| Revised limit of allergenic disperse dyes
|
Allergenic Disperse Dyes (22 dyes) | Dyed textiles parts Textiles include polyester, nylon, acryl, acetate, triacetate, vinyl chloride | ≤ 50 mg/kg (each) |
| Addition of total NP & NPEO requirement | Total NP, NPEO (New) | Textile parts | ≤ 100 mg/kg |
Children’s Leather Products (Annex 1)
Safety Standards of Supplier’s Conformity Annex 1 applies to all leather products used by children 13 years of age and under.
The limit of chromium VI for leather products intended for infants (< 36 months) has been revised to ≤ 3 mg/kg, which is the same for children (≥ 36 months to ≤13 years of age).
Changes to both Safety Standards
In addition to the above changes, there was a general revision and clarification of the materials to be tested for harmful substances across both Safety Standards of Supplier’s Conformity Annex 15 and Safety Standards of Supplier’s Conformity Annex 1.
BLC Chemical Testing Services
As an internationally accredited laboratory for leather and textile product testing, BLC can carry out restricted substance testing to identify levels of a number of chemicals, including those mentioned in this article:
- Cadmium testing
- Disperse dyes testing
- APEOs and NPEOs testing
- Chrome VI testing
Chemical and Material Specification Support for BLC Members
In addition to the chemical testing, BLC can offer specification support to members, which includes reviewing and creating chemical and material specifications in line with various international legislation. BLC are also able to offer 1-2-1 advice on chemical legislation through our technical concierge service for members only.
Contact BLC Today
For further information on restricted substance testing for leather and textile products, contact BLC today via info@blcchemicaltesting.com or call us on +44 (0)1604 679999.
Further Information on South Korean Safety Standards
For further information on this recent revision, visit the National Institute of Standards and Technology website and refer to notification number 2017-0017.