Clothing Heavy Metal Testing

In recent years, one of the most common reasons for textile product recalls in Europe and the United States has been the excessive presence of harmful chemical substances, such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, and phthalates. Therefore, chemical substance testing has become a crucial method for textile companies—both to secure overseas orders and to gain consumer trust domestically.

What Are the Relevant Chemical Substance regulations in the EU and the US?

In both the EU and the US, products containing prohibited or restricted harmful chemical substances—or containing them in excessive amounts—are not allowed to be sold on the market. For textile exports, the key regulations to pay close attention to include:

1. EU reach regulation: Textiles must comply with the 76 restrictions listed in Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation.

2. US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (cpsia): Strictly limits the lead content in children’s products and sets specific limits for phthalates in toys and childcare articles.

What Are the Main Chemical Testing Items?

The CPSIA focuses primarily on hazardous substances such as leadand phthalates. For textiles exported to the EU, the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100certification is highly recognized. It fully complies with Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation and includes testing for more than 300 harmful substances. Below are some common test items:

1. Formaldehyde, BISphenol A (BPA)

2. Extractable Heavy Metals

3. Hexavalent Chromium, Total Cadmium Content, Total Lead Content, Nickel Release

4. Azo Dyes, Allergenic and Carcinogenic Dyes

5. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

6. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

7. Phthalates

8. Polychlorophenols, Phenol

9. Benzene and Toluene

10. Alkylphenols and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (AP & APEO)

11. Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCP, MCCP)

12. Organotin Compounds

13. Phthalates(listed again due to importance)

JJR Testing Laboratory in China offers professional textile heavy metal testing services for EU and US compliance. Contact us for more information.