Textile Express: Saudi Arabia's new textile technical regulations come into

On 24 August 2018, the Saudi Arabian Standards, Metrology and Quality Authority (SASO) had published in its official gazette the technical regulations for textiles. The new regulations apply to all textile products sold on the Saudi Arabian market. According to the requirements of the regulation, textile suppliers shall comply with the provisions of the regulation as of 23 February 2019, and non-compliant textiles may be traded in 2019 have been called off.

 

The regulation sets out the basic requirements for textile products and the conformity assessment procedure that textile product suppliers must follow when placing textile products on the market. Textile suppliers must obtain a certificate of conformity from a certification body according to the following product types.

 

Type 3: Children's products and underwear ;

Type A1: textile products other than children's products and underwear.

In order to obtain a Certificate of Conformity, the textile products shall be provided with the following technical documentation.

Declaration of conformity from the supplier (manufacturer/importer) ;

Laboratory report on the safety of the hazardous chemical product.

 

Products with the Saudi Quality Mark, or the Saudi Environmental Mark or its equivalent, which is accepted for issue by SASO, are considered to comply with all requirements in the technical regulations.

 

1. Scope of application of the regulations

 

Annex 1 lists the textile products that are subject to this technical regulation, including.

 

(1) Textile fibres representing at least 80% of the total weight of the product;

(2) Furniture upholstery materials, umbrellas and parasols where textile fibres account for at least 80% of the total weight of the product;

(3) All accessory products involving textiles: upper layers of multi-layer carpets, bed covers, outer tents for camping goods (with a textile fibre content of at least 80% of the total weight), textiles used in the manufacture of other products and processed as an integral part of such products (e.g. shoes).

 

2. Labels

 

(1) The information on the completed label or mark must comply with the relevant standards listed in Appendix I, Table B;

(2) The information must be correct, verified and must not mislead the consumer;

(3) The label must be sewn or securely attached to the product, not easily removable, and located in a common place in the textile product;

(4) The label must not contain any Quranic verses or the name of God, and the images and words used must not be contrary to public order, public morality and the Islamic values prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

(5) The label shall contain the following information: percentage of fibre content (the names of the fibres listed in Annex 3 of this Technical Regulation shall be used), product weight and dimensions, supplier name and commercial registration number, country of origin, and care instructions.
 

3. Safety requirements

 

(1) Children's clothing drawstrings;

(2) Prohibited chemicals: azo dyes, formaldehyde, chlorinated phenols, o-phenylphenol (OPP), heavy metals, carcinogenic and allergenic dyes, flame retardants, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, chlorinated organic compounds, phthalates, organotin compounds and pH;

(3) Colour fastness to perspiration, water fastness, rubbing fastness and dyeing fastness (only for children's clothing).