Market requirements
Selling textiles in the UK: requirements
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.
Last reviewed 3 Oct 2026 · Not legal advice
A few items for this market are still being checked against official sources and aren't listed yet.
Mandatory (law)
Required by law for textiles sold in the UK.
| Requirement | Applies to | Proof | Date | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre composition labelEnforces retained Regulation 1007/2011 (3% tolerance). Northern Ireland follows EU rules. | Textile products sold in Great Britain | Fibre names and % by weight, in EnglishEN ISO 1833 series | 8 May 2012 | In force | Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Names) Regulations 2012 (legislation.gov.uk) |
| Origin and other claims must not misleadCMA can fine directly for unfair practices from 6 Apr 2025. CMA Green Claims Code gives guidance on environmental claims. | Claims only; no mandatory origin label | Evidence for any origin, environmental or other claim | 6 Apr 2025 | In force | Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) |
| General product safetyThe Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 allows these to be replaced; government consulted in 2026. GPSR 2005 still applies until replaced. | All consumer products | Risk assessment and technical file; producer/importer identity and product reference on product | 1 Oct 2005 | In force | General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk) |
| UK REACH chemical restrictions (Annex 17)Mirrors EU restrictions adopted before 2021. The EU PFHxA restriction (entry 79) is not part of UK REACH. PFOA/PFOS/PFHxS limits come via UK POPs rules. | All textile articles | Lab test reports for azo amines, CMRs incl. formaldehyde 75 mg/kg (entry 72), NPE, nickel, phthalates, PAHs, organotinsEN ISO 14362-1EN ISO 14184-1EN ISO 18254-1EN 1811EN ISO 14389 | 1 Jan 2021 | In force | HSE – UK REACH |
| Modern slavery statement | Organisations doing business in the UK with turnover ≥ £36m | Annual slavery and human trafficking statement; buyers ask suppliers for audits and declarations | 29 Oct 2015 | In force | Modern Slavery Act 2015 s.54 (legislation.gov.uk) |
Commonly requested by buyers
Not required by law, but many buyers ask for these.
| Requirement | Applies to | Proof | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care labelNot legally required in the UK; expected by buyers. | All textiles | ISO 3758 care symbolsISO 3758 | GINETEX |
| OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificateBuyer-driven, not law. Product classes I-IV set limits (Class I = babies). Certificates are issued by OEKO-TEX institutes, not by a third party such as TexPass. | All textiles; most common for children's wear, underwear, bed linen | Valid OEKO-TEX certificate number, checkable on the OEKO-TEX label checkOEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 test catalogue (tested only by OEKO-TEX member institutes) | OEKO-TEX |
| Organic / recycled content certification (GOTS, OCS, GRS, RCS)Buyer-driven, not law. In the EU, from 27 Sept 2026 a sustainability label must be based on a certification scheme or set by a public authority (Directive 2024/825), so buyers lean on these schemes more. Verify certificates in the GOTS public database / Textile Exchange certified-organisation lists. | Claims only: products sold as organic or recycled | Scope certificate for each site in the chain plus a Transaction Certificate (TC) per shipmentGOTS v7.xTextile Exchange OCS / GRS / RCS (Content Claim Standard) | Global Organic Textile Standard / Textile Exchange |
| Restricted Substances List (AFIRM RSL or brand RSL) lab testBuyer-driven. RSLs typically mirror and go beyond legal limits (e.g. EU REACH, CPSIA). The AFIRM RSL is updated roughly yearly. | All textiles; children's wear usually tested more strictly | Lab test report from an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab against the buyer's RSLEN ISO 14362-1 (azo amines)ISO 14184-1 (formaldehyde)ISO 18254-1 (APEO/NPE)EN ISO 14389 (phthalates)EN 16711-2 (extractable heavy metals)EN 17681-1 / EN 17681-2 (PFAS)ISO 3071 (pH) | AFIRM Group |
| ZDHC MRSL conformance and wastewater testingBuyer-driven. Applies to the factory's chemical inputs and effluent, not the finished garment. | Wet-processing units (dyeing, printing, finishing) supplying large brands | Chemical inventory checked against ZDHC MRSL (e.g. ZDHC Gateway / InCheck report); ZDHC wastewater test reportZDHC MRSL v3.1ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines | ZDHC Roadmap to Zero |
| Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, Sedex SMETA, SA8000, WRAP)Buyer-driven. Increasingly used as evidence for buyers' legal due-diligence duties (EU Forced Labour Regulation, CSDDD, UK Modern Slavery Act, US UFLPA). | Garment and textile factories | Audit report / certificate from the scheme's approved auditoramfori BSCISedex SMETA 4-pillarSA8000WRAP | amfori / Sedex / SAI |
| Physical performance tests (shrinkage, colourfastness, pilling, seam strength)Buyer-driven quality requirements, not law. Pass/fail limits are set by each buyer. | All garments and fabrics | Lab test report against the buyer's quality manualISO 6330 + ISO 5077 (dimensional change)ISO 105-C06 (colourfastness to washing)ISO 105-X12 (rubbing)ISO 105-E04 (perspiration)ISO 105-B02 (light)ISO 12945-1 / ISO 12945-2 (pilling)ISO 13935-2 (seam strength)ISO 13934-1 (tensile)ISO 3071 (pH) | ISO/TC 38 Textiles |
| Fibre composition verification testBuyer-driven way of supporting the mandatory fibre label; the law requires an accurate label, not a specific test. | All textiles | Lab test report confirming the label's fibre percentagesISO 1833 series / EN ISO 1833 (quantitative chemical analysis)ISO/TR 11827 (identification) | ISO/TC 38 Textiles |
| Better Cotton sourcingBuyer-driven. Mass-balance scheme: does not prove physical traceability of a given garment unless the traceable option is used. | Cotton products for brands that are Better Cotton members | Better Cotton Platform declarations (mass-balance volumes) | Better Cotton |
| Children's wear mechanical safety (snap/button pull, small parts, sharp edges)Commonly required by retailers. Legally, garments must be safe under general product-safety law; these methods are how buyers check it. | Children's clothing, especially under 3 years | Lab test reportCEN/TR 16792 (safety of children's clothing: design recommendations)EN 71-1 small-parts cylinder (used by analogy) | CEN |
Testing for UK
What TexPass can test or verify here
Tests we can arrange at NABL-accredited labs that match the rows on this page, and certificate checks on the official registries.
Tell us the product and we'll suggest the tests.
Certificate checks: GOTS, OCS, GRS and OEKO-TEX on the official registries
Questions about the UK
What does the law require for textiles sold in the UK?
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.
What do buyers in the UK commonly ask for?
Common buyer requests include: Care label; OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificate; Organic / recycled content certification (GOTS, OCS, GRS, RCS); Restricted Substances List (AFIRM RSL or brand RSL) lab test; ZDHC MRSL conformance and wastewater testing; Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, Sedex SMETA, SA8000, WRAP); Physical performance tests (shrinkage, colourfastness, pilling, seam strength); Fibre composition verification test; Better Cotton sourcing; Children's wear mechanical safety (snap/button pull, small parts, sharp edges). Buyers ask for these; no law requires them.
Does TexPass certify textile products for the UK?
No. TexPass is not a lab or a certification body. Accredited labs issue the test reports and certification bodies issue certificates; TexPass arranges tests and certificate checks and puts the results on a passport.
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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