OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 – New test criteria and limit values for 2016

• Webinars in German and English provide additional detailed information on the further improvement of sustainable consumer protection for textile products

Supplements or changes were made to the following test parameters in the OEKO-TEX® criteria catalogue:

• Perfluorinated compounds, organotin compounds, softeners/phthalates, pesticides, chlorinated phenols, chlorinated benzenes and toluenes, colourants classified as carcinogenic and which are thus prohibited, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates as well as flame-retardant substances
• The new test parameter “UV stabilisers” was also included in OEKO-TEX® product class IV.

A complete overview of all amendments and inclusions to the 2016 issue of the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, including a summary of chemical substances, CAS numbers, limit values and background information can be downloaded from the OEKO-TEX® website under the address

www.oeko-tex.com/test-criteria-2016.

For textile producers, brands, retailers and other interested parties who would like more details about the latest changes in the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 criteria catalogue, OEKO-TEX® will hold two webinars in German and English on 03 February 2016. Participation in the webinars is free. Registration is possible until 29 January 2016. All participants can direct their individual questions to the moderator of the webinar via Live Chat so that they can be answered during or shortly after the event. The following webinars are available:

• German webinar on 03.02.2016, 11:00 (CET)
  Registration / log-in data: via mail to Ms Birgit Klaus, e-mail: bklaus@certification-oekotex.com
• US webinar on 03.02.2016, 12:00 (EST USA)
  Registration / log-in data: via mail to Ms Dina Dunn, e-mail: dina@blinkready.com

Since its introduction in 1992, the central focus of the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 has been the development of test criteria, limit values and test methods on a scientific basis. From a consumer's point of view, almost 25 years of experience as a leading international certification system for independent textile substance testing contributes to a high degree of effective product safety. Test criteria and limit values in many cases go far beyond applicable national and international standards. Extensive product checks after the certificate has been issued, as well as regular company audits, also ensure that the industry has a globally sustainable awareness of the responsible use of chemicals.

Using its extensive and strict catalogue of measures with several hundred regulated individual substances, the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 not only takes into account important statutory regulations, requirements of Annexes XVII and XIV and the SVHC candidate list for textile products from REACh together with requirements from the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), but also significantly and to a high degree supports initiatives such as the “Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC)” initiative and the “Detox Campaign”. Through the continuous work by expert groups in the OEKO-TEX® Association and the updates to the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which take place at least once each year, new scientific innovations and findings are constantly taken into account.

If you require more information on the new OEKO-TEX® test criteria, please also contact the OEKO-TEX® Secretariat (info@oeko-tex.com) or the OEKO-TEX® Institutes and representative offices www.oeko-tex.com/institutes).