Market requirements
Textile requirements by market
What the law requires and what buyers commonly ask for when textile products are sold in each market, wherever they were made, with links to the official sources.
Last reviewed 3 Oct 2026 · Not legal advice
Market guides
European Union
With France and Germany notes
Every textile product sold in the EU needs an accurate fibre label and must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulation. REACH limits chemicals such as azo dyes, formaldehyde and nonylphenol ethoxylates, and limits for PFHxA in clothing apply from 10 October 2026. Rules on environmental claims apply from 27 September 2026 and the forced-labour ban from 14 December 2027. The textile Digital Product Passport has not been adopted yet. France and Germany add a few national rules.
22 legal requirements · 10 buyer requests · 3 apply later
United States
Federal rules plus state PFAS laws
Apparel sold in the US needs fibre, origin, manufacturer and care labels, and clothing textiles must meet the 16 CFR 1610 flammability standard. Children's products (12 and under) need third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab, tracking labels and a Children's Product Certificate issued by the importer. Imports are screened under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Several states restrict PFAS in textiles: California, New York and Maine today, Washington from 2027 and Colorado from 2028.
21 legal requirements · 9 buyer requests · 2 apply later
United Kingdom
Labelling, safety and UK REACH
Textile products sold in the UK need an accurate fibre label and must be safe under general product safety law. UK REACH limits chemicals such as azo dyes, formaldehyde, nonylphenol ethoxylates and nickel. Origin and other claims must not mislead consumers, and larger businesses publish a modern slavery statement.
5 legal requirements · 10 buyer requests
Canada
Bilingual labels and Health Canada rules
Textile products sold in Canada need a bilingual fibre content label with the dealer's identity, and imported apparel must be marked with its country of origin. Health Canada rules cover textile flammability and lead in children's clothing. Goods made with forced labour are banned at import, and larger companies report on forced and child labour in their supply chains.
6 legal requirements · 10 buyer requests
Australia
Care labels and consumer law
Care labels are required on clothing sold in Australia. Environmental claims must not mislead under Australian Consumer Law, and large entities report under the Modern Slavery Act. Buyers usually cover chemicals and fibre content through their restricted-substance lists and lab tests.
3 legal requirements · 9 buyer requests
Outlines
Short outlines while the full guides are checked against official sources.
Japan
Outline: full guide coming
No legal requirements listed yet · 6 buyer requests
United Arab Emirates
Outline: full guide coming
No legal requirements listed yet · 6 buyer requests
Saudi Arabia
Outline: full guide coming
No legal requirements listed yet · 6 buyer requests
South Korea
Outline: full guide coming
No legal requirements listed yet · 6 buyer requests
How to read these pages
- Mandatory (law): required by law in that market.
- Commonly requested by buyers: buyers ask for it; no law requires it.
- In force: applies today. Applies later: adopted, with a future date. Proposed: not adopted yet.
- Every row links to its official source. Requirements often depend on the product: children's wear, sleepwear, home textiles, or claims only.
This is a summary for planning, not legal advice. Confirm with your importer or a qualified adviser before relying on any item.
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