Main Legal Requirement
Textile products are required to bear a label or mark which indicates the fibres that they are composed of.
This fibre content information must be clearly legible, in uniform lettering, and must be and distinct from all other information (except for trade marks and business names).
If the textile product is in packaging the indication can appear on that packaging.
What is a textile product?
Raw, semi-worked or made-up products composed of textile fibres.
- Products containing at least 80% by weight of textile products (including furniture, umbrella and sunshine coverings)
- Textile parts of carpets, mattresses, camping goods and the warm linings of footwear, gloves, mittens (provided such parts and linings contain not less than 80% of textile fibres).
- Textiles incorporated in and forming an integral part of other products where the textile parts are specified
Footwear
There are separate requirements concerning the labelling of footwear. Go to: Footwear Labelling page for more information
How should products with two or more textile components be marked?
The fibre content of each component must be given, except where the component is less than 30% by weight of the product unless such components are main linings (i.e. trouser suit where the jacket differs from the trousers, or a dress where the bodice is different from the skirt).
Where the product consists of a single unit with two or more components with the same fibre content, for example as in a suit, a single fibre content indication may be given.
What particular expressions are controlled?
The description '100%', 'pure' or 'all' shall be used only if the product is composed exclusively of one fibre. (There is a small tolerance for manufacturing impurities and decorative fibres).
'Fleece Wool' or 'Virgin Wool' may only be used if the product is composed exclusively of wool fibre which has never before been used in a finished product. These expressions may be used in a fibre mixture, provided that:-
- All the wool in the product satisfies the above requirements
- The wool is not less than 25% of the weights of the mixed fibre
In the case of a scribbled mixture, the mixture consists only of wool and one other fibre.
How should other 'mixed fibres' be described?
A textile product consisting of two or more fibres where one of the fibres accounts for at least 85% of the total weight shall be marked by:-
- The name of the main fibre preceded or followed by its percentage, for example, 85% cotton or cotton 85%, the word 'minimum' may also be used;
- The names of all the fibres in declining order of their weight preceded or followed by the percentage content, for example, 85% cotton, 10% viscose, 5% acrylic
Where any product consists of two or more fibres, none of which account for 85% or more of the product weight the product shall be marked as follows:
- With the name of the main fibre together with its percentage followed by the other fibres in weight descending order with or without their percentages
- Where the product consists of two fibres of equal weight, it shall be marked with the names of the two main fibres and an indication of their percentages
- Separate fibres accounting for less than 10% of the weight of the product may be indicated 'other fibres', provided their total weight is shown
- Where a fibre is named and its weight accounts or less than 10%, the name of an percentage by weight of ever fibre present shall be given
- The expression 'mixed fibres' may only be used on products whose content is difficult to determine at the time of manufacture.
What happens if I don't comply with the requirements?
These requirements are detailed in the Textile Product (Indications of Fibre Content) Regulations 1986. These make it an offence to supply, offer to supply, possess or expose for supply, textile products which do not comply with these requirements. Failure to comply could therefore result in prosecution and the courts may impose a fine.
This information is not comprehensive, it is subject to periodic amendment and cannot be held to be an authoritative interpretation of the law. For more detailed information please contact:-
Bury Trading Standards Office
Textile Hall
Manchester Road
BURY
BL9 0DG
Tel: 0161 253 5566
Fax: 0161 253 5547
email: tradingstandards@bury.gov.uk
