EU Regulation 1007/2011, the Textile Labelling Regulation, requires textile products sold in the EU to be labelled with their fibre composition, using the fibre names set out in the regulation and listed in descending order by weight. Garments and fabric made in India and imported into the EU must comply just like goods made in Europe, and the importer is usually the party held responsible. The regulation also sets tolerances for the difference between the declared and actual composition, so small variations do not put you in breach.
What the regulation requires
- Fibre composition must be shown as percentages by weight, listed in descending order.
- Only the fibre names in the regulation's annex may be used. Trade names and brand names cannot replace them, although they can appear alongside.
- The label must be durable, legible, visible and accessible, and securely attached. For garments this normally means a sewn-in label.
- The information must appear in the official language or languages of the member state where the product is sold.
- Products made of a single fibre may be described with terms such as 100 percent or pure only if they are entirely that fibre, subject to the regulation's tolerances.
- Some products, including multi-component products and certain decorative items, have their own labelling treatment.
Tolerances and testing
The regulation allows a tolerance between the composition stated on the label and the composition found on testing, with a separate allowance for foreign fibres that are technically unavoidable in manufacturing. The practical lesson is that your declared composition should come from a lab test on the actual fabric, not from the supplier's description. A mill that says a fabric is a 60/40 blend is usually quoting the yarn specification, and the finished fabric can test slightly differently after finishing.
Test the fabric at bulk stage, not only at sampling. A change of yarn supplier between sample and bulk, which is common in Indian spinning, can shift the composition enough to matter.
Working with the supplier
Give the supplier the exact label text in each language, including the fibre names you have confirmed against the regulation. Specify where the label goes and how it is attached. Ask for the first production pieces with labels sewn in, and compare them with the artwork before the bulk is labelled. A label with the wrong fibre name or an unapproved translation is one of the most common reasons for goods being held or relabelled at destination.
The regulation is amended from time to time to add new fibre names and adjust requirements, and member states enforce it through their own market surveillance bodies. Confirm the current text with your compliance team before you finalise artwork. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
How we help
We send sealed fabric samples to an NABL-accredited lab for fibre composition testing, so the label is based on a test report rather than a trader's word. We check the sewn-in labels against your artwork before loading, and the test report goes into the document pack. If you are setting up fibre labelling for a new product, a free 20-minute sourcing review is a good place to start.