Labelling
REGULATION (EU) No 1007/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 27 September 2011
Regulations on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking
of the fibre composition of textile products and repealing Council Directive 73/44/EEC and Directives 96/73/EC and 2008/121/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ( 1 ),
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure ( 2 ),
Whereas:
(1)
Council Directive 73/44/EEC of 26 February 1973 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the quantitative analysis of ternary fibre mixtures ( 3 ), Directive 96/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 on certain methods for the quantitative analysis of binary textile fibre mixtures ( 4 ) and Directive 2008/121/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 January 2009 on textile names ( 5 ) have been amended several times. Since further amendments are to be made, those acts should be replaced by a single legal instrument, in the interest of clarity.
(2)
The legal acts of the Union on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of fibre composition of textile products are very technical in their content, with detailed provisions that need to be adapted regularly. In order to avoid the need for Member States to transpose the technical amendments into national legislation and thus reduce the administrative burden for national authorities and in order to allow for a faster adoption of new textile fibre names to be used simultaneously throughout the Union, a regulation seems to be the most appropriate legal instrument to carry out the legislative simplification.
(3)
In order to eliminate potential obstacles to the proper functioning of the internal market caused by Member States’ diverging provisions with regard to textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of fibre composition of textile products, it is necessary to harmonise the names of textile fibres and the indications appearing on labels, markings and documents which accompany textile products at the various stages of their production, processing and distribution.
(4)
The labelling and marking requirements laid down in this Regulation should not apply in cases where textile products are contracted out to persons working in their own homes or to independent firms that carry out work from materials supplied to them without the property therein being transferred for consideration or where customised textile products are made up by self-employed tailors. However, those exemptions should be limited to the transactions between those persons working in their own homes or independent firms and the persons contracting out work to them, and between self-employed tailors and consumers.
(5)
This Regulation lays down harmonised provisions with regard to certain aspects of textile labelling and marking, in particular textile fibre names. Other labelling and marking may exist, provided that it does not cover the same scope as this Regulation and that it is compatible with the Treaties.
(6)
It is appropriate to lay down rules enabling manufacturers to ask for the inclusion of a new textile fibre name in the Annexes to this Regulation.
(7)
Provision should also be made in respect of certain products which are not made exclusively of textile materials but have a textile content which constitutes an essential part of the product or to which attention is specifically drawn by the economic operator.
(8)
It is appropriate to lay down rules concerning the labelling or marking of certain textile products which contain non-textile parts of animal origin. This Regulation should, in particular, set out the requirement to indicate the presence of non-textile parts of animal origin on the labelling or marking of textile products containing such parts, in order to enable consumers to make informed choices. The labelling or marking should not be misleading.
(9)
The tolerance in respect of ‘extraneous fibres’, which are not to be stated on the labels and markings, should apply both to pure products and to mixtures.
(10)
Labelling or marking of the fibre composition should be compulsory to ensure that correct and uniform information is made available to all consumers in the Union. However, this Regulation should not prevent economic operators from indicating, in addition, the presence of small quantities of fibres requiring particular attention to keep the original quality of the textile product. Where it is technically difficult to specify the fibre composition of a textile product at the time of its manufacture, it should be possible to state, on the label or marking, only those fibres which are known at the time of manufacture provided that they account for a certain percentage of the finished product.
(11)
In order to avoid differences in practice among the Member States, it is necessary to lay down the exact methods of labelling or marking for certain textile products consisting of two or more components, and also to specify the components of textile products that need not be taken into account for the purposes of labelling, marking and analysis.
(12)
Textile products subject only to the requirements of inclusive labelling, and those sold by the metre or in cut lengths, should be made available on the market in such a way that the consumer can fully acquaint himself with the information affixed to the overall packaging or the roll.
(13)
The use of textile fibre names or descriptions of fibre compositions which enjoy particular prestige among users and consumers should be made subject to certain conditions. Furthermore, in order to provide information to users and consumers, it is appropriate that the textile fibre names are related to the characteristics of the fibre.
(14)
The market surveillance in Member States of products covered by this Regulation is subject to Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products ( 6 ) and Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety ( 7 ).
(15)
It is necessary to lay down methods for the sampling and analysis of textile products in order to exclude any possibility of objections to the methods used. The methods used for official tests carried out in the Member States to determine the fibre composition of textile products composed of binary and ternary fibre mixtures should be uniform, as regards both the pre-treatment of the sample and its quantitative analysis. In order to simplify this Regulation and adapt the uniform methods set out therein to technical progress, it is appropriate that those methods be turned into harmonised standards. To that end, the Commission should manage the transition from the current system, which is based on the methods set out in this Regulation, to a harmonised standard-based system. The use of uniform methods of analysis of textile products composed of binary and ternary fibre mixtures will facilitate the free movement of those products, and thereby improve the functioning of the internal market.
(16)
In the case of binary textile fibre mixtures for which there is no uniform method of analysis at Union level, the laboratory responsible for the test should be allowed to determine the composition of such mixtures, indicating in the analysis report the result obtained, the method used and its degree of accuracy.
(17)
This Regulation should set out the agreed allowances to be applied to the anhydrous mass of each fibre during the determination by analysis of the fibre content of textile products, and should give two different agreed allowances for calculating the composition of carded or combed fibres containing wool and/or animal hair. Since it cannot always be established whether a product is carded or combed, and consequently inconsistent results can arise from the application of the tolerances during checks on the conformity of textile products carried out in the Union, the laboratories carrying out those checks should be authorised to apply a single agreed allowance in doubtful cases.
(18)
Rules should be laid down in respect of products exempt from the general labelling and marking requirements set out in this Regulation, in particular with respect to disposable products or products for which only inclusive labelling is required.
(19)
Misleading commercial practices, involving the provision of false information that would cause consumers to take a transactional decision that they would not have taken otherwise, are prohibited by Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market ( 8 ) and are covered by Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection law ( 9 ).
(20)
Consumer protection requires transparent and consistent trade rules, including as regards indications of origin. When such indications are used, they should enable consumers to be fully aware of the origin of the products they purchase, so as to protect them against fraudulent, inaccurate or misleading claims of origin.
(21)
The European textiles sector is affected by counterfeiting, which poses problems in terms of consumer protection and information. Member States should pay particular attention to the implementation of horizontal Union legislation and measures regarding counterfeit products in the field of textile products, for example Council Regulation (EC) No 1383/2003 of 22 July 2003 concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual property rights and the measures to be taken against goods found to have infringed such rights ( 10 ).
(22)
It is appropriate to establish a procedure for the inclusion of new textile fibre names in the Annexes to this Regulation. This Regulation should thus set out requirements regarding applications by manufacturers or other persons acting on their behalf for new textile fibre names to be added to those Annexes.
(23)
It is necessary that manufacturers, or other persons acting on their behalf, who wish to add a new textile fibre name to the Annexes to this Regulation, include in the technical file to be submitted with their application available scientific information concerning possible allergic reactions or other adverse effects of the new textile fibre on human health, including results of tests conducted to that effect in compliance with relevant Union legislation.
(24)
The power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the adoption of technical criteria and procedural rules for the authorisation of higher tolerances, the amendment of Annexes II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX in order to adapt them to technical progress and the amendment of Annex I in order to include new textile fibre names in the list set out in that Annex. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.
(25)
Since the objectives of this Regulation cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of its scale, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
(26)
In order to eliminate possible obstacles to the proper functioning of the internal market caused by divergent provisions or practices of Member States, and in order to keep pace with the development of electronic commerce and future challenges in the market for textile products, the harmonisation or standardisation of other aspects of textile labelling should be examined. To that end, the Commission is invited to submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council regarding possible new labelling requirements to be introduced at Union level with a view to facilitating the free movement of textile products in the internal market and to achieving a high level of consumer protection throughout the Union. That report should examine in particular consumer views relating to the amount of information that should be supplied on the label of textile products, and investigate which means other than labelling may be used to provide additional information to consumers. The report should be based on an extended consultation of relevant stakeholders, including consumers, and should take into account existing related European and international standards. The report should examine, in particular: the scope and features of possible harmonised rules on the indication of origin, taking into account the results of developments on potential horizontal country-of-origin rules; the added value to the consumer of possible labelling requirements relating to care instructions, size, hazardous substances, flammability and environmental performance of the textile products; the use of language-independent symbols or codes for identifying the textile fibres contained in a textile product, enabling the consumer to understand easily the composition and, in particular, the use of natural or synthetic fibres; social labelling and electronic labelling; as well as the inclusion of an identification number on the label to obtain additional on-demand information, especially via the Internet, about the product and the manufacturer. The report should be accompanied, where appropriate, by legislative proposals.
(27)
The Commission should carry out a study to evaluate whether there is a causal link between allergic reactions and chemical substances or mixtures used in textile products. On the basis of that study, the Commission should, where appropriate, submit legislative proposals in the context of existing Union legislation.
(28)
Directives 73/44/EEC, 96/73/EC and 2008/121/EC should be repealed,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Subject matter
This Regulation lays down rules concerning the use of textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of fibre composition of textile products, rules concerning the labelling or marking of textile products containing non-textile parts of animal origin and rules concerning the determination of the fibre composition of textile products by quantitative analysis of binary and ternary textile fibre mixtures, with a view to improving the functioning of the internal market and to providing accurate information to consumers.
Article 2
Scope
1. This Regulation shall apply to textile products when made available on the Union market and to the products referred to in paragraph 2.
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following products shall be treated in the same way as textile products:
(a) products containing at least 80 % by weight of textile fibres;
(b) furniture, umbrella and sunshade coverings containing at least 80 % by weight of textile components;
(c) the textile components of:
(i) the upper layer of multi-layer floor coverings;
(ii) mattress coverings;
(iii) coverings of camping goods;
provided such textile components constitute at least 80 % by weight of such upper layers or coverings;
(d) textiles incorporated in other products and forming an integral part thereof, where their composition is specified.
3. This Regulation shall not apply to textile products which are contracted out to persons working in their own homes or to independent firms that carry out work from materials supplied without the property therein being transferred for consideration.
4. This Regulation shall not apply to customised textile products made up by self-employed tailors.
Article 3
Definitions
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) ‘textile product’ means any raw, semi-worked, worked, semi-manufactured, manufactured, semi-made-up or made-up product which is exclusively composed of textile fibres, regardless of the mixing or assembly process employed;
(b) ‘textile fibre’ means either of the following:
(i) a unit of matter characterised by its flexibility, fineness and high ratio of length to maximum transverse dimension, which render it suitable for textile applications;
(ii) a flexible strip or tube, of which the apparent width does not exceed 5 mm, including strips cut from wider strips or films, produced from the substances used for the manufacture of the fibres listed in Table 2 of Annex I and suitable for textile applications;
(c) ‘apparent width’ means the width of the strip or tube when folded, flattened, compressed or twisted, or the average width where the width is not uniform;
(d) ‘textile component’ means a part of a textile product with an identifiable fibre content;
(e) ‘extraneous fibres’ means fibres other than those stated on the label or marking;
(f) ‘lining’ means a separate component used in making up garments and other products, consisting of a single layer or multiple layers of textile material held in place along one or more of the edges;
(g) ‘labelling’ means affixing the required information to the textile product by way of attaching a label;
(h) ‘marking’ means indicating the required information directly on the textile product by way of sewing, embroidering, printing, embossing or any other technology of application;
(i) ‘inclusive labelling’ means the use of a single label for several textile products or components;
(j) ‘disposable product’ means a textile product designed to be used only once or for a limited time, and the normal use of which is not intended for subsequent use for the same or a similar purpose;
(k) ‘agreed allowance’ means the value of moisture regain to be used in the calculation of the percentage of fibre components on a clean, dry mass basis, with adjustment by conventional factors.
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions of ‘making available on the market’, ‘placing on the market’, ‘manufacturer’, ‘importer’, ‘distributor’, ‘economic operators’, ‘harmonised standard’, ‘market surveillance’ and ‘market surveillance authority’ set out in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 shall apply.
Article 4
General requirement on the making available on the market of textile products
Textile products shall only be made available on the market provided that such products are labelled, marked or accompanied with commercial documents in compliance with this Regulation.
CHAPTER 2
TEXTILE FIBRE NAMES AND RELATED LABELLING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS
Article 5
Textile fibre names
1. Only the textile fibre names listed in Annex I shall be used for the description of fibre compositions on labels and markings of textile products.
2. Use of the names listed in Annex I shall be reserved for textile fibres the nature of which corresponds to the description set out in that Annex.
The names listed in Annex I shall not be used for other fibres, whether on their own or as a root or as an adjective.
The term ‘silk’ shall not be used to indicate the shape or particular presentation in continuous filament yarn of textile fibres.
Article 6
Applications for new textile fibre names
Any manufacturer or any person acting on a manufacturer’s behalf may apply to the Commission to add a new textile fibre name to the list set out in Annex I.
The application shall include a technical file compiled in accordance with Annex II.
Article 7
Pure textile products
1. Only textile products exclusively composed of the same fibre may be labelled or marked as ‘100 %’, ‘pure’ or ‘all’.
Those or similar terms shall not be used for other textile products.
2. Without prejudice to Article 8(3), a textile product containing no more than 2 % by weight of extraneous fibres may also be treated as exclusively composed of the same fibre, provided this quantity is justified as being technically unavoidable in good manufacturing practice and is not added as a matter of routine.
A textile product which has undergone a carding process may also be treated as exclusively composed of the same fibre if it contains no more than 5 % by weight of extraneous fibres, provided this quantity is justified as being technically unavoidable in good manufacturing practice and is not added as a matter of routine.
Article 8
Fleece wool or virgin wool products
1. A textile product may be labelled or marked by one of the names set out in Annex III provided it is composed exclusively of a wool fibre which has not previously been incorporated in a finished product, which has not been subjected to any spinning and/or felting processes other than those required in the manufacture of that product, and which has not been damaged by treatment or use.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the names listed in Annex III may be used to describe wool contained in a textile fibre mixture if all the following conditions are met:
(a) all the wool contained in that mixture satisfies the requirements defined in paragraph 1;
(b) such wool accounts for not less than 25 % of the total weight of the mixture;
(c) in the case of a scribbled mixture, the wool is mixed with only one other fibre.
The full percentage composition of such mixture shall be given.
3. The extraneous fibres in the products referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, including wool products which have undergone a carding process, shall not exceed 0,3 % by weight, shall be justified as being technically unavoidable in good manufacturing practice and shall not be added as a matter of routine.
Article 9
Multi-fibre textile products
1. A textile product shall be labelled or marked with the name and percentage by weight of all constituent fibres in descending order.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, and without prejudice to Article 7(2), a fibre which accounts for up to 5 % of the total weight of the textile product, or fibres which collectively account for up to 15 % of the total weight of the textile product, may, where they cannot easily be stated at the time of the manufacture, be designated by the term ‘other fibres’, immediately preceded or followed by their total percentage by weight.
3. Products having a pure cotton warp and a pure flax weft, in which the percentage of flax accounts for at least 40 % of the total weight of the unsized fabric may be given the name ‘cotton linen union’ which must be accompanied by the composition specification ‘pure cotton warp — pure flax (or linen) weft’.
4. Without prejudice to Article 5(1), for textile products the composition of which is hard to state at the time of their manufacture, the term ‘mixed fibres’ or the term ‘unspecified textile composition’ may be used on the label or marking.
5. By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, fibres not yet listed in Annex I may be designated by the term ‘other fibres’, immediately preceded or followed by their total percentage by weight.
Article 10
Decorative fibres and fibres with antistatic effect
1. Visible, isolable fibres which are purely decorative and do not exceed 7 % of the weight of the finished product do not have to be taken into account in the fibre compositions provided for in Articles 7 and 9.
2. Metallic fibres and other fibres which are incorporated in order to obtain an antistatic effect and which do not exceed 2 % of the weight of the finished product do not have to be taken into account in the fibre compositions provided for in Articles 7 and 9.
►C1 3. In the case of the products referred to in Article 9(3), ◄ the percentages provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall be calculated on the weight of the warp and that of the weft separately.
Article 11
Multi-component textile products
1. Any textile product containing two or more textile components which have different textile fibre contents shall bear a label or marking stating the textile fibre content of each component.
2. The labelling or marking referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be compulsory for textile components when the following two conditions are fulfilled:
(a) those components are not main linings; and
(b) those components represent less than 30 % of the total weight of the textile product.
3. Where two or more textile products have the same fibre content and normally form a single unit, they may bear only one label or marking.
Article 12
Textile products containing non-textile parts of animal origin
1. The presence of non-textile parts of animal origin in textile products shall be indicated by using the phrase ‘Contains non-textile parts of animal origin’ on the labelling or marking of products containing such parts whenever they are made available on the market.
2. The labelling or marking shall not be misleading and shall be carried out in such a way that the consumer can easily understand.
Article 13
Labelling and marking of textile products listed in Annex IV
The fibre composition of textile products listed in Annex IV shall be indicated in accordance with the labelling and marking provisions set out in that Annex.
Article 14
Labels and markings
1. Textile products shall be labelled or marked to give an indication of their fibre composition whenever they are made available on the market.
The labelling and marking of textile products shall be durable, easily legible, visible and accessible and, in the case of a label, securely attached.
2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, labels or markings may be replaced or supplemented by accompanying commercial documents when the products are being supplied to economic operators within the supply chain, or when they are delivered in performance of an order placed by any contracting authority as defined in Article 1 of Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts ( 11 ).
3. The textile fibre names and descriptions of fibre compositions referred to in Articles 5, 7, 8 and 9 shall be clearly indicated in the accompanying commercial documents referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
Abbreviations shall not be used with the exception of a mechanised processing code, or where the abbreviations are defined in international standards, provided that they are explained in the same commercial document.
Article 15
Obligation to supply the label or marking
1. When placing a textile product on the market, the manufacturer shall ensure the supply of the label or marking and the accuracy of the information contained therein. If the manufacturer is not established in the Union, the importer shall ensure the supply of the label or marking and the accuracy of the information contained therein.
2. A distributor shall be considered a manufacturer for the purposes of this Regulation where he places a product on the market under his name or trademark, attaches the label himself or modifies the content of the label.
3. When making a textile product available on the market, the distributor shall ensure that textile products bear the appropriate labelling or marking prescribed by this Regulation.
4. The economic operators referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall ensure that any information supplied when textile products are made available on the market cannot be confused with the textile fibre names and the descriptions of fibre compositions, as laid down by this Regulation.
Article 16
The use of textile fibre names and fibre composition descriptions
1. When making a textile product available on the market, the textile fibre composition descriptions referred to in Articles 5, 7, 8 and 9 shall be indicated in catalogues and trade literature, on packaging, labels and markings in a manner that is easily legible, visible, clear and in print which is uniform as regards its size, style and font. This information shall be clearly visible to the consumer before the purchase, including in cases where the purchase is made by electronic means.
2. Trade marks or the name of the undertaking may be given immediately before or after textile fibre composition descriptions referred to in Articles 5, 7, 8 and 9.
However, where a trade mark or a name of an undertaking contains, on its own or as a root or as an adjective, one of the textile fibre names listed in Annex I or a name liable to be confused therewith, such trade mark or name shall be given immediately before or after the textile fibre composition descriptions referred to in Articles 5, 7, 8 and 9.
Other information shall be always displayed separately.
3. The labelling or marking shall be provided in the official language or languages of the Member State on the territory of which the textile products are made available to the consumer, unless the Member State concerned provides otherwise.
In the case of bobbins, reels, skeins, balls or other small quantities of sewing, mending and embroidery yarns, the first subparagraph shall apply to the inclusive labelling referred to in Article 17(3). Whenever these products are individually sold, they may be labelled or marked in any of the official languages of the institutions of the Union, provided they are also inclusively labelled.
Article 17
Derogations
1. The rules laid down in Articles 11, 14, 15 and 16 shall be subject to the derogations provided for in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Article.
2. The indication of textile fibre names or fibre composition on the labels and markings of textile products listed in Annex V is not required.
However, where a trade mark or name of an undertaking contains, on its own or as a root or as an adjective, one of the names listed in Annex I or a name liable to be confused therewith, Articles 11, 14, 15 and 16 shall apply.
3. Where textile products listed in Annex VI are of the same type and fibre composition, they may be made available on the market together with an inclusive labelling.
4. The fibre composition of textile products sold by the metre may be shown on the length or roll made available on the market.
5. The textile products referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 shall be made available on the market in such a way that the fibre composition of those products is made known to each purchaser in the supply chain, including the consumer.
CHAPTER 3
MARKET SURVEILLANCE
Article 18
Market surveillance checks
Market surveillance authorities shall carry out checks on the conformity of the fibre composition of textile products with the supplied information related to the fibre composition of those products in accordance with this Regulation.
Article 19
Determination of fibre composition
1. For the purpose of determining the fibre composition of textile products, the checks referred to in Article 18 shall be carried out in accordance with the methods set out in Annex VIII or with the harmonised standards to be introduced in that Annex.
2. In the determination of fibre compositions set out in Articles 7, 8 and 9, the items listed in Annex VII shall not be taken into account.
3. The fibre compositions set out in Articles 7, 8 and 9 shall be determined by applying to the anhydrous mass of each fibre the appropriate agreed allowance laid down in Annex IX, after having removed the items set out in Annex VII.
4. The laboratories responsible for the testing of textile mixtures for which there is no uniform method of analysis at Union level shall determine the fibre composition of such mixtures, indicating in the analysis report the result obtained, the method used and its degree of accuracy.
Article 20
Tolerances
1. For the purposes of establishing the fibre composition of textile products, the tolerances laid down in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 shall apply.
2. Without prejudice to Article 8(3), the presence of extraneous fibres in the fibre composition to be provided in accordance with Article 9 does not need to be indicated if the percentage of those fibres does not reach the following values:
(a) 2 % of the total weight of the textile product, provided this quantity is justified as being technically unavoidable in good manufacturing practice and is not added as a matter of routine; or
(b) 5 % of the total weight in the case of textile products which have undergone a carding process, provided this quantity is justified as being technically unavoidable in good manufacturing practice and is not added as a matter of routine.
3. A manufacturing tolerance of 3 % shall be permitted between the stated fibre composition to be provided in accordance with Article 9 and the percentages obtained from analysis carried out in accordance with Article 19, in relation to the total weight of fibres shown on the label or marking. Such tolerance shall also apply to the following:
(a) fibres which may be designated by the term ‘other fibres’ in accordance with Article 9;
(b) the percentage of wool referred to in point (b) of Article 8(2).
For the purposes of the analysis, the tolerances shall be calculated separately. The total weight to be taken into account in calculating the tolerance referred to in this paragraph shall be that of the fibres of the finished product less the weight of any extraneous fibres found when applying the tolerance referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
4. The cumulative application of the tolerances referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be permitted only if any extraneous fibres found by analysis, when applying the tolerance referred to in paragraph 2, prove to be of the same chemical type as one or more of the fibres shown on the label or marking.
5. In the case of particular textile products for which the manufacturing process requires tolerances higher than those laid down in paragraphs 2 and 3, the Commission may authorise higher tolerances.
Prior to placing the textile product on the market, the manufacturer shall submit a request for authorisation by the Commission providing sufficient reasons for and evidence of the exceptional manufacturing circumstances. The authorisation may only be granted in exceptional cases and where adequate justification is provided by the manufacturer.
If appropriate, the Commission shall adopt, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 22, technical criteria and procedural rules for the application of this paragraph.
CHAPTER 4
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 21
Delegated acts
1. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22 concerning the adoption of technical criteria and procedural rules for the application of Article 20(5), amendments to Annexes II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX, in order to take account of technical progress, and amendments to Annex I in order to include, pursuant to Article 6, new textile fibre names in the list set out in that Annex.
2. When adopting such delegated acts, the Commission shall act in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation.
Article 22
Exercise of the delegation
1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 20(5) and Article 21 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 7 November 2011. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.
3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 20(5) and Article 21 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 20(5) and Article 21 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and to the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Article 23
Reporting
By 8 November 2014, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the application of this Regulation, with an emphasis on the requests for and adoption of new textile fibre names and submit, where appropriate, a legislative proposal.
Article 24
Review
1. By 30 September 2013, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council regarding possible new labelling requirements to be introduced at Union level with a view to providing consumers with accurate, relevant, intelligible and comparable information on the characteristics of textile products.
2. The report shall be based on a consultation of relevant stakeholders and shall take into account existing related European and international standards.
3. The report shall be accompanied, where appropriate, by legislative proposals, and shall examine, inter alia, the following issues:
(a) an origin labelling scheme aimed at providing consumers with accurate information on the country of origin and additional information ensuring full traceability of textile products, taking into account the results of developments on potential horizontal country-of-origin rules;
(b) a harmonised care labelling system;
(c) a Union-wide uniform size labelling system for relevant textile products;
(d) an indication of allergenic substances;
(e) electronic labelling and other new technologies, and the use of language-independent symbols or codes for the identification of fibres.
Article 25
Study on hazardous substances
By 30 September 2013, the Commission shall carry out a study to evaluate whether there is a causal link between allergic reactions and chemical substances or mixtures used in textile products. On the basis of that study, the Commission shall, where appropriate, submit legislative proposals in the context of existing Union legislation.
Article 26
Transitional provision
Textile products which comply with Directive 2008/121/EC and which are placed on the market before 8 May 2012 may continue to be made available on the market until 9 November 2014.
Article 27
Repeal
Directives 73/44/EEC, 96/73/EC and 2008/121/EC are hereby repealed with effect from 8 May 2012.
References to the repealed Directives shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation tables in Annex X.
Article 28
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 8 May 2012.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
ANNEX I
List of textile fibre names
(referred to in Article 5)
Table 1
Number
Name
Fibre description
1
wool
fibre from sheep’s or lambs’ fleeces (Ovis aries) or a mixture of fibres from sheep’s or lambs’ fleeces and the hairs of animals listed in number 2
2
alpaca, llama, camel, cashmere, mohair, angora, vicuna, yak, guanaco, cashgora, beaver, otter, followed or not by the word ‘wool’ or ‘hair’
hair of the following animals: alpaca, llama, camel, kashmir goat, angora goat, angora rabbit, vicuna, yak, guanaco, cashgora goat, beaver, otter
3
animal or horsehair, with or without an indication of the kind of animal (e.g. cattle hair, common goat hair, horsehair)
hair of the various animals not mentioned under number 1 or 2
4
Silk
fibre obtained exclusively from silk-secreting insects
5
cotton
fibre obtained from the bolls of the cotton plant (Gossypium)
6
kapok
fibre obtained from the inside of the kapok fruit (Ceiba pentandra)
7
flax (or linen)
fibre obtained from the bast of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum)
8
true hemp
fibre obtained from the bast of hemp (Cannabis sativa)
9
Jute
fibre obtained from the bast of Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis. For the purposes of this Regulation, bast fibres obtained from the following species shall be treated in the same way as jute: Hibiscus cannabinus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Abutilon avicennae, Urena lobata, Urena sinuata
10
abaca (Manila hemp)
fibre obtained from the sheathing leaf of Musa textilis
11
Alfa
fibre obtained from the leaves of Stipa tenacissima
12
coir (coconut)
fibre obtained from the fruit of Cocos nucifera
13
broom
fibre obtained from the bast of Cytisus scoparius and/or Spartium Junceum
14
ramie
fibre obtained from the bast of Boehmeria nivea and Boehmeria tenacissima
15
sisal
fibre obtained from the leaves of Agave sisalana
16
sunn
fibre from the bast of Crotalaria juncea
17
henequen
fibre from the bast of Agave fourcroydes
18
maguey
fibre from the bast of Agave cantala
Table 2
Number
Name
Fibre description
19
acetate
cellulose acetate fibre wherein less than 92 % but at least 74 % of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated
20
alginate
fibre obtained from metallic salts of alginic acid
21
cupro
regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by the cuprammonium process
22
modal
a regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by a modified viscose process having a high breaking force and high wet modulus. The breaking force (BC) in the conditioned state and the force (BM) required to produce an elongation of 5 % in the wet state are:
BC (cN) ≥ 1,3 image
BM (cN) ≥ 0,5 image
where T is the mean linear density in decitex
23
protein
fibre obtained from natural protein substances regenerated and stabilised through the action of chemical agents
24
triacetate
cellulose acetate fibre wherein at least 92 % of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated
25
viscose
regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by the viscose process for filament and discontinuous fibre
26
acrylic
fibre formed of linear macromolecules comprising at least 85 % (by mass) in the chain of the acrylonitrilic pattern
27
chlorofibre
fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in their chain more than 50 % by mass of chlorinated vinyl or chlorinated vinylidene monomeric units
28
fluorofibre
fibre formed of linear macromolecules made from fluorocarbon aliphatic monomers
29
modacrylic
fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in the chain more than 50 % and less than 85 % (by mass) of the acrylonitrilic pattern
30
polyamide or nylon
fibre formed from synthetic linear macromolecules having in the chain recurring amide linkages of which at least 85 % are joined to aliphatic or cycloaliphatic units
31
aramid
fibre formed from synthetic linear macromolecules made up of aromatic groups joined by amide or imide linkages, of which at least 85 % are joined directly to two aromatic rings and with the number of imide linkages, if present, not exceeding the number of amide linkages
32
polyimide
fibre formed from synthetic linear macromolecules having in the chain recurring imide units
33
lyocell
a regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by dissolution, and an organic solvent (mixture of organic chemicals and water) spinning process, without formation of derivatives
34
polylactide
fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in the chain at least 85 % (by mass) of lactic acid ester units derived from naturally occurring sugars, and which has a melting temperature of at least 135 °C
35
polyester
fibre formed of linear macromolecules comprising at least 85 % (by mass) in the chain of an ester of a diol and terephthalic acid
36
polyethylene
fibre formed of un-substituted aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon linear macromolecules
37
polypropylene
fibre formed of an aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon linear macromolecule where one carbon atom in two carries a methyl side chain in an isotactic disposition and without further substitution
38
polycarbamide
fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in the chain the recurring ureylene (NH-CO-NH) functional group
39
polyurethane
fibre formed of linear macromolecules composed of chains with the recurring urethane functional group
40
vinylal
fibre formed of linear macromolecules whose chain is constituted by poly(vinyl alcohol) with differing levels of acetalisation
41
trivinyl
fibre formed of acrylonitrile terpolymer, a chlorinated vinyl monomer and a third vinyl monomer, none of which represents as much as 50 % of the total mass
42
elastodiene
elastofibre composed of natural or synthetic polyisoprene, or composed of one or more dienes polymerised with or without one or more vinyl monomers, and which, when stretched to three times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length
43
elastane
elastofibre composed of at least 85 % (by mass) of a segmented polyurethane, and which, when stretched to three times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length
44
glass fibre
fibre made of glass
45
elastomultiester
fibre formed by interaction of two or more chemically distinct linear macromolecules in two or more distinct phases (of which none exceeds 85 % by mass) which contains ester groups as the dominant functional unit (at least 85 %) and which, after suitable treatment when stretched to one and half times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length
46
elastolefin
fibre composed of at least 95 % (by mass) of macromolecules partially cross-linked, made up from ethylene and at least one other olefin and which, when stretched to one and a half times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length
47
melamine
fibre formed of at least 85 % by mass of cross-linked macromolecules made up of melamine derivatives
48
name corresponding to the material of which the fibres are composed, e.g. metal (metallic, metallised), asbestos, paper, followed or not by the word ‘yarn’ or ‘fibre’
fibres obtained from miscellaneous or new materials not listed above
▼M2
49
Polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent
a bicomponent fibre composed of between 10 % and 25 % by mass of polyamide fibrils embedded in polypropylene matrix
▼B
ANNEX II
Minimum requirements regarding a technical file to be included in the application for a new textile fibre name
(referred to in Article 6)
A technical file to be attached to an application for the inclusion of a new textile fibre name in the list set out in Annex I, as provided for in Article 6, shall contain at least the following information:
(1) Proposed name of the textile fibre:
The name proposed shall be related to the chemical composition and shall provide information about the characteristics of the fibre, if appropriate. The name proposed shall be free of any intellectual property rights and shall not be linked to the manufacturer.
(2) Proposed definition of the textile fibre:
The characteristics mentioned in the definition of the new textile fibre, such as elasticity, shall be verifiable via testing methods to be provided with the technical file along with the experimental results of analyses.
(3) Identification of the textile fibre: chemical formula, differences from existing textile fibres, together with, where relevant, detailed data such as melting point, density, refractive index, burning behaviour and FTIR spectrum.
(4) Proposed agreed allowance to be used in the calculation of fibre composition.
(5) Sufficiently developed identification and quantification methods, including experimental data:
The applicant shall evaluate the possibility to use the methods listed in Annex VIII or the harmonised standards to be introduced in that Annex to analyse the most expected commercial mixtures of the new textile fibre with other textile fibres and shall propose at least one of those methods. For those methods or harmonised standards where the textile fibre can be considered as an insoluble component, the applicant shall evaluate the mass correction factors of the new textile fibre. All the experimental data shall be submitted with the application.
If methods listed in this Regulation are not suitable, the applicant shall provide adequate reasoning and propose a new method.
The application shall contain all the experimental data for the methods proposed. Data on the accuracy, robustness and repeatability of the methods shall be provided with the file.
(6) Available scientific information concerning possible allergic reactions or other adverse effects of the new textile fibre on human health, including results of tests conducted to that effect in compliance with relevant Union legislation.
(7) Additional information to support the application: production process, consumer relevance.
The manufacturer or any person acting on the manufacturer’s behalf shall provide representative samples of the new pure textile fibre and the relevant textile fibre mixtures necessary to conduct the validation of the proposed identification and quantification methods. The Commission may request additional samples of relevant fibre mixtures from the manufacturer or the person acting on the manufacturer’s behalf.
ANNEX III
Names referred to in Article 8(1)
—
in Bulgarian : ‘необработена вълна’
—
in Spanish : ‘lana virgen’ or ‘lana de esquilado’
—
in Czech : ‘střižní vlna’
—
in Danish : ‘ren, ny uld’
—
in German : ‘Schurwolle’
—
in Estonian : ‘uus vill’
—
in Greek : ‘παρθένο μαλλί’
—
in English : ‘fleece wool’ or ‘virgin wool’
—
in French : ‘laine vierge’ or ‘laine de tonte’
▼M3
—
in Croatian : ‘runska vuna’
▼B
—
in Irish : ‘olann lomra’
—
in Italian : ‘lana vergine’ or ‘lana di tosa’
—
in Latvian : ‘pirmlietojuma vilna’ or ‘cirptā vilna’
—
in Lithuanian : ‘natūralioji vilna’
—
in Hungarian : ‘élőgyapjú’
—
in Maltese : ‘suf verġni’
—
in Dutch : ‘scheerwol’
—
in Polish : ‘żywa wełna’
—
in Portuguese : ‘lã virgem’
—
in Romanian : ‘lână virgină’
—
in Slovak : ‘strižná vlna’
—
in Slovene : ‘runska volna’
—
in Finnish : ‘uusi villa’
—
in Swedish : ‘ny ull’
ANNEX IV
Special provisions for the labelling and marking of certain textile products
(referred to in Article 13)
Products
Labelling and marking provisions
1. The following corsetry products:
The fibre composition shall be indicated on the label and marking by stating the composition of the whole product or, either inclusively or separately, that of the components listed respectively:
(a) Brassières
the outside and the inside fabric of the surface of the cups and back
(b) Corsets and girdles
the front, the rear and side panels
(c) Corselets
the outside and inside fabric of the surface of cups, the front and rear stiffening panels and the side panels
2. Other corsetry products not listed above
The fibre composition shall be indicated by stating the composition of the whole product or, either inclusively or separately, the composition of the various components of the products. Such labelling shall not be compulsory for components representing less than 10 % of the total weight of the product
3. All corsetry products
The separate labelling and marking of the various parts of corsetry products shall be carried out in such a way that the consumer can easily understand to which part of the product the information on the label or marking refers
4. Etch-printed textiles
The fibre composition shall be given for the product as a whole and may be indicated by stating, separately, the composition of the base fabric and that of the etched parts. Those components shall be mentioned by name
5. Embroidered textiles
The fibre composition shall be given for the product as a whole and may be indicated by stating, separately, the composition of the base fabric and that of the embroidery yarn. Those components shall be mentioned by name. Such labelling or marking is compulsory only for the embroidered parts which amount to at least 10 % of the surface area of the product
6. Yarns consisting of a core and a cover made up of different fibres and made available on the market as such to the consumer
The fibre composition shall be given for the product as a whole and may be indicated by stating the composition of the core and the cover separately. Those components shall be mentioned by name
7. Velvet and plush textiles, or textiles resembling velvet or plush
The fibre composition shall be given for the whole product and, where the product comprises a distinct backing and a use-surface composed of different fibres, may be stated separately for those components. Those components shall be mentioned by name
8. Floor coverings and carpets of which the backing and the use-surface are composed of different fibres
The fibre composition may be stated for the use-surface alone. The use-surface must be mentioned by name
ANNEX V
Textile products for which labelling or marking is not mandatory
(referred to in Article 17(2))
1. Sleeve-supporting armbands
2. Watch straps of textile materials
3. Labels and badges
4. Stuffed pan-holders of textile materials
5. Coffee cosy covers
6. Tea cosy covers
7. Sleeve protectors
8. Muffs other than in pile fabric
9. Artificial flowers
10. Pin cushions
11. Painted canvas
12. Textile products for base and underlying fabrics and stiffenings
13. Old made-up textile products, where explicitly stated to be such
14. Gaiters
15. Packaging, not new and sold as such
16. Fancy goods and saddlery, of textile materials
17. Travel goods of textile materials
18. Hand-embroidered tapestries, finished or unfinished, and materials for their production, including embroidery yarns, sold separately from the canvas and specially presented for use in such tapestries
19. Slide fasteners
20. Buttons and buckles covered with textile materials
21. Book covers of textile materials
22. Toys
23. Textile parts of footwear
24. Table mats having several components and a surface area of not more than 500 cm2
25. Oven gloves and cloths
26. Egg cosy covers
27. Make-up cases
28. Tobacco pouches of textile fabric
29. Spectacle, cigarette and cigar, lighter and comb cases of textile fabric
30. Covers for mobile telephones and portable media players with a surface of not more than 160 cm2
31. Protective requisites for sports with the exception of gloves
32. Toilet cases
33. Shoe-cleaning cases
34. Funeral products
35. Disposable products, with the exception of wadding
36. Textile products subject to the rules of the European Pharmacopoeia and covered by a reference to those rules, non-disposable bandages for medical and orthopaedic use and orthopaedic textile products in general
37. Textile products including cordage, ropes and string, subject to item 12 of Annex VI, normally intended:
(a) for use as equipment components in the manufacture and processing of goods;
(b) for incorporation in machines, installations (e.g. for heating, air conditioning or lighting), domestic and other appliances, vehicles and other means of transport, or for their operation, maintenance or equipment, other than tarpaulin covers and textile motor vehicle accessories sold separately from the vehicle
38. Textile products for protection and safety purposes such as safety belts, parachutes, life-jackets, emergency chutes, fire-fighting devices, bulletproof waistcoats and special protective garments (e.g. protection against fire, chemical substances or other safety hazards)
39. Air-supported structures (e.g. sports halls, exhibition stands or storage facilities), provided that details of the performances and technical specifications of these products are supplied
40. Sails
41. Animal clothing
42. Flags and banners
ANNEX VI
Textile products for which inclusive labelling is sufficient
(referred to in Article 17(3))
1. Floorcloths
2. Cleaning cloths
3. Edgings and trimmings
4. Passementerie
5. Belts
6. Braces
7. Suspenders and garters
8. Shoe and boot laces
9. Ribbons
10. Elastic
11. New packaging sold as such
12. Packing string and agricultural twine; string, cordage and ropes other than those falling within item 37 of Annex V ( 12 )
13. Table mats
14. Handkerchiefs
15. Bun nets and hair nets
16. Ties and bow ties for children
17. Bibs, washgloves and face flannels
18. Sewing, mending and embroidery yarns presented for retail sale in small quantities with a net weight of 1 gram or less
19. Tape for curtains and blinds and shutters
ANNEX VII
Items not to be taken into account for the determination of fibre composition
(referred to in Article 19(2))
Products
Items excluded
(a) All textile products
(i) Non-textile parts, selvedges, labels and badges, edgings and trimmings not forming an integral part of the product, buttons and buckles covered with textile materials, accessories, decorations, non-elastic ribbons, elastic threads and bands added at specific and limited points of the product and, subject to the conditions specified in Article 10, visible, isolable fibres which are purely decorative and fibres with antistatic effect
(ii) Fatty substances, binders, weightings, sizings and dressings, impregnating products, additional dyeing and printing products and other textile processing products
(b) Floor coverings and carpets
All components other than the use-surface
(c) Upholstery fabrics
Binding and filling warps and wefts which do not form part of the use-surface
(d) Hangings and curtains
Binding and filling warps and wefts which do not form part of the right side of the fabric
(e) Socks
Additional elastic yarns used in the cuff and the stiffening and reinforcement yarns of the toe and the heel
(f) Tights
Additional elastic yarns used in the belt and the stiffening and reinforcement yarns of the toe and the heel
(g) Textile products other than those under points (b) to (f)
Base or underlying fabrics, stiffenings and reinforcements, inter-linings and canvas backings, stitching and assembly threads unless they replace the warp and/or weft of the fabric, fillings not having an insulating function and, subject to Article 11(2), linings
For the purposes of this provision:
(i) the base or underlying material of textile products which serve as a backing for the use-surface, in particular in blankets and double fabrics, and the backings of velvet or plush fabrics and kindred products shall not be regarded as backings to be removed;
(ii) ‘stiffenings and reinforcements’ mean the yarns or materials added at specific and limited points of the textile products to strengthen them or to give them stiffness or thickness
ANNEX VIII
Methods for the quantitative analysis of binary and ternary textile fibre mixtures
(referred to in Article 19(1))
CHAPTER 1
I. Preparation of laboratory test samples and test specimens to determine the fibre composition of textile products
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This Chapter gives procedures for obtaining laboratory test samples of a suitable size for pre-treatment for quantitative analysis (i.e. of a mass not exceeding 100 g) from laboratory bulk samples, and for selecting test specimens from the laboratory test samples that have been pre-treated to remove non-fibrous matter ( 13 ).
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. Bulk source
The quantity of material which is assessed on the basis of one series of test results. This may comprise, for example, all the material in one delivery of cloth; all the cloth woven from a particular beam; a consignment of yarn, a bale or a group of bales of raw fibre.
2.2. Laboratory bulk sample
The portion of the bulk source taken to be representative of the whole, and which is available to the laboratory. The size and nature of the laboratory bulk sample shall be sufficient to adequately overcome the variability of the bulk source and to facilitate ease of handling in the laboratory ( 14 ).
2.3. Laboratory test sample
That portion of the laboratory bulk sample that is subjected to pre-treatment to remove non-fibrous matter, and from which test specimens are taken. The size and nature of the laboratory test sample shall be sufficient to overcome adequately the variability of the laboratory bulk sample ( 15 ).
2.4. Test specimen
The portion of material required to give an individual test result, and selected from the laboratory test sample.
3. PRINCIPLE
The laboratory test sample is selected so that it is representative of the laboratory bulk sample.
The test specimens are taken from the laboratory test sample in such a way that each of them is representative of the laboratory test sample.
4. SAMPLING FROM LOOSE FIBRES
4.1. Unorientated fibres
Obtain the laboratory test sample by selecting tufts at random from the laboratory bulk sample. Mix thoroughly the whole of the laboratory test sample by means of a laboratory carder ( 16 ). Subject the web or mixture, including loose fibres and fibres adhering to the equipment used for mixing, to pre-treatment. Then select test specimens, in proportion to the respective masses, from the web or mixture, from the loose fibres and from the fibres adhering to the equipment.
If the card web remains intact after pre-treatment, select the test specimens in the manner described in 4.2. If the card web is disturbed by the pre-treatment, select each test specimen by removing at random at least 16 small tufts of suitable and approximately equal size and then combine them.
4.2. Orientated fibres (cards, webs, slivers, rovings)
From randomly selected parts of the laboratory bulk sample cut not less than 10 cross-sections each of mass approximately 1 g. Subject the laboratory test sample so formed to the pre-treatment. Recombine the cross-sections by laying them side by side and obtain the test specimen by cutting through them so as to take a portion of each of the 10 lengths.
5. SAMPLING YARN
5.1. Yarn in packages or in banks
Sample all the packages in the bulk laboratory sample.
Withdraw the appropriate continuous equal lengths from each package either by winding skeins of the same number of turns on a wrap-reel ( 17 ), or by some other means. Unite the lengths side by side either as a single skein or as a tow to form the laboratory test sample, ensuring that there are equal lengths from each package in the skein or tow.
Subject the laboratory test sample to the pre-treatment.
Take test specimens from the laboratory test sample by cutting a bunch of threads of equal length from the skein or tow, taking care to see that the bunch contains all the threads in the sample.
If the tex of the yarn is t and the number of packages selected from the laboratory bulk sample is n, then to obtain a test sample of 10 g, the length of yarn to be withdrawn from each package is 106/nt cm.
If nt is high, i.e. more than 2 000 , wind a heavier skein and cut it across in two places to make a tow of suitable mass. The ends of any sample in the form of a tow shall be securely tied before pre-treatment and test specimens taken from a place remote from the tie bands.
5.2. Yarn on warp
Take the laboratory test sample by cutting a length from the end of the warp, not less than 20 cm long and comprising all the yarns in the warp except the selvedge yarns, which are rejected. Tie the bunch of threads together near one end. If the sample is too large for pre-treatment as a whole divide it into two or more portions, each tied together for pre-treatment, and reunite the portions after each has been pre-treated separately. Take a test specimen by cutting a suitable length from the laboratory test sample from the end remote from the tie band, and comprising all the threads in the warp. For warp of N threads of tex t, the length of a specimen of mass 1 g is 105/Nt cm.
6. SAMPLING FABRIC
6.1. From a laboratory bulk sample consisting of a single cutting representative of the cloth
Cut a diagonal strip from one corner to the other and remove the selvedges. This strip is the laboratory test sample. To obtain a laboratory test sample of x g, the strip area shall be x104/G cm2, where G is the mass of the cloth in g/m2.
Subject the laboratory test sample to the pre-treatment and then cut the strip transversely into four equal lengths and superimpose them. Take test specimens from any part of the layered material by cutting through all the layers so that each specimen contains an equal length of each layer.
If the fabric has a woven design, make the width of the laboratory test sample, measured parallel to the warp direction, not less than one warp repeat of the design. If, with this condition satisfied, the laboratory test sample is too large to be treated as a whole, cut it into equal parts, pre-treat them separately, and superimpose these parts before selection of the test specimen, taking care that corresponding parts of the design do not coincide.
6.2. From a laboratory bulk sample consisting of several cuttings
Treat each cutting as described in 6.1, and give each result separately.
7. SAMPLING MADE-UP AND FINISHED PRODUCTS
The bulk laboratory sample is normally a complete made-up or finished product or representative fraction of one.
Where appropriate determine the percentage of the various parts of the product not having the same fibre content, in order to check compliance with Article 11.
Select a laboratory test sample representative of the part of the made-up or finished product, whose composition must be shown by the label. If the product has several labels, select laboratory test samples representative of each part corresponding to a given label.
If the product whose composition is to be determined is not uniform, it may be necessary to select laboratory test samples from each of the parts of the product and to determine the relative proportions of the various parts in relation to the whole product in question.
Then calculate the percentages taking into account the relative proportions of the sampled parts.
Subject the laboratory test samples to the pre-treatment.
Then select test specimens representative of the pre-treated laboratory test samples.
II. Introduction to the methods for the quantitative analysis of textile fibre mixtures
Methods for the quantitative analysis of fibre mixtures are based on two main processes, the manual separation and the chemical separation of fibres.
The method of manual separation shall be used whenever possible since it generally gives more accurate results than the chemical method. It can be used for all textiles whose component fibres do not form an intimate mixture, as for example in the case of yarns composed of several elements each of which is made up of only one type of fibre, or fabrics in which the fibre of the warp is of a different kind to that of the weft, or knitted fabrics capable of being unravelled made up of yarns of different types.
In general, the methods of chemical quantitative analysis are based on the selective solution of the individual components. After the removal of a component the insoluble residue is weighed, and the proportion of the soluble component is calculated from the loss in mass. This first part of the Annex gives the information common to the analyses by this method of all fibre mixtures dealt with in the Annex, whatever their composition. It shall thus be used in conjunction with the succeeding individual sections of the Annex, which contain the detailed procedures applicable to particular fibre mixtures. Occasionally, an analysis is based on a principle other than selective solution; in such cases full details are given in the appropriate section.
Mixtures of fibres during processing and, to a lesser extent, finished textiles may contain non-fibrous matter, such as fats, waxes or dressings, or water-soluble matter, either occurring naturally or added to facilitate processing. Non-fibrous matter must be removed before analysis. For this reason a method for removing oils, fats, waxes and water-soluble matter is also given.
In addition, textiles may contain resins or other matter added to confer special properties. Such matter, including dyestuffs in exceptional cases, may interfere with the action of the reagent on the soluble component and/or it may be partially or completely removed by the reagent. This type of added matter may thus cause errors and shall be removed before the sample is analysed. If it is impossible to remove such added matter the methods for quantitative chemical analysis given in this Annex are no longer applicable.
Dye in dyed fabrics is considered to be an integral part of the fibre and is not removed.
Analyses are conducted on the basis of dry mass and a procedure is given for determining dry mass.
The result is obtained by applying to the dry mass of each fibre the agreed allowances listed in Annex IX.
Before proceeding with any analysis, all the fibres present in the mixture shall have been identified. In some methods, the insoluble component of a mixture may be partially dissolved in the reagent used to dissolve the soluble component(s).
Where possible, reagents have been chosen that have little or no effect on the insoluble fibres. If loss in mass is known to occur during the analysis, the result shall be corrected; correction factors for this purpose are given. These factors have been determined in several laboratories by treating, with the appropriate reagent as specified in the method of analysis, fibres cleaned by the pre treatment.
These correction factors apply only to undegraded fibres and different correction factors may be necessary if the fibres have been degraded before or during processing. The procedures given apply to single determinations.
At least two determinations on separate test specimens shall be made, both in the case of manual separation and in the case of chemical separation.
For confirmation, unless technically impossible, it is recommended to use alternative procedures whereby the constituent that was the residue in the standard method is dissolved out first.
CHAPTER 2
METHODS FOR QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN BINARY TEXTILE FIBRE MIXTURES
I. General information common to the methods given for the quantitative chemical analysis of textile fibre mixtures
I.1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
The field of application for each method specifies to which fibres the method is applicable.
I.2. PRINCIPLE
After the identification of the components of a mixture, the non-fibrous material is removed by suitable pre-treatment and then one of the components, usually by selective solution ( 18 ). The insoluble residue is weighed and the proportion of soluble component calculated from the loss in mass. Except where this presents technical difficulties, it is preferable to dissolve the fibre present in the greater proportion, thus obtaining the fibre present in the smaller proportion as residue.
I.3. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
I.3.1. Apparatus
I.3.1.1.
Filter crucibles and weighing bottles large enough to contain such crucibles, or any other apparatus giving identical results.
I.3.1.2.
Vacuum flask.
I.3.1.3.
Desiccator containing self-indicating silica gel.
I.3.1.4.
Ventilated oven for drying specimens at 105 ± 3 °C.
I.3.1.5.
Analytical balance, accurate to 0,0002 g.
I.3.1.6.
Soxhlet extractor or other apparatus giving identical results.
I.3.2.
Reagents.
I.3.2.1.
Light petroleum, redistilled, boiling range 40 to 60 °C.
I.3.2.2.
Other reagents are specified in the appropriate section of each method.
I.3.2.3.
Distilled or deionised water.
I.3.2.4.
Acetone.
I.3.2.5.
Orthophosphoric acid.
I.3.2.6.
Urea.
I.3.2.7.
Sodium bicarbonate.
All reagents used shall be chemically pure.
I.4. CONDITIONING AND TESTING ATMOSPHERE
Because dry masses are determined, it is unnecessary to condition the specimen or to conduct analyses in a conditioned atmosphere.
I.5. LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE
Take a laboratory test sample that is representative of the laboratory bulk sample and sufficient to provide all the specimens, each of at least 1 g, that are required.
I.6. PRE-TREATMENT OF LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE ( 19 )
Where a substance not to be taken into account in the percentage calculations (see Article 19) is present, it shall first be removed by a suitable method that does not affect any of the fibre constituents.
For this purpose, non-fibrous matter which can be extracted with light petroleum and water is removed by treating the laboratory test sample in a Soxhlet extractor with light petroleum for 1 hour at a minimum rate of six cycles per hour. Allow the light petroleum to evaporate from the sample, which is then extracted by direct treatment consisting in soaking the laboratory test sample in water at room temperature for 1 hour and then soaking it in water at 65 ± 5 °C for a further hour, agitating the liquor from time to time. Use a liquor-laboratory test sample ratio of 100:1. Remove the excess water from the sample by squeezing, suction or centrifuging and then allow the sample to become air-dry.
In the case of elastolefin or fibre mixtures containing elastolefin and other fibres (wool, animal hair, silk, cotton, flax (or linen) true hemp, jute, abaca, alfa, coir, broom, ramie, sisal, cupro, modal, protein, viscose, acrylic, polyamide or nylon, polyester, elastomultiester) the procedure just described shall be slightly modified, in that light petroleum ether shall be replaced by acetone.
In the case of binary fibre mixtures containing elastolefin and acetate the following procedure shall apply as pre-treatment. Extract the laboratory test sample for 10 minutes at 80 °C with a solution containing 25 g/l of 50 % orthophosphoric acid and 50 g/l of urea. Use a liquor-laboratory test sample ratio of 100:1. Wash laboratory test sample in water, then drain and wash it in a 0,1 % sodium bicarbonate solution, finally wash it carefully in water.
Where non-fibrous matter cannot be extracted with light petroleum and water, it shall be removed by substituting for the water method described above a suitable method that does not substantially alter any of the fibre constituents. However, for some unbleached, natural vegetable fibres (e.g. jute, coir) it is to be noted that normal pre-treatment with light petroleum and water does not remove all the natural non-fibrous substances; nevertheless additional pre-treatment is not applied unless the sample contains finishes insoluble in both light petroleum and water.
Analysis reports shall include full details of the methods of pre-treatment used.
I.7. TEST PROCEDURE
I.7.1. General instructions
I.7.1.1. Drying
Conduct all drying operations for not less than 4 hours and not more than 16 hours at 105 ± 3 °C in a ventilated oven with the oven door closed throughout. If the drying period is less than 14 hours, the specimen must be weighed to check that its mass has become constant. The mass may be considered to have become constant if, after a further drying period of 60 minutes, its variation is less than 0,05 %.
Avoid handling crucibles and weighing bottles, specimens or residues with bare hands during the drying, cooling and weighing operations.
Dry specimens in a weighing bottle with its cover beside it. After drying, stopper the weighing bottle before removing it from the oven, and transfer it quickly to the desiccator.
Dry the filter crucible in a weighing bottle with its cover beside it in the oven. After drying, close the weighing bottle and transfer it quickly to the desiccator.
Where apparatus other than a filter crucible is used, drying operations in the oven shall be conducted in such a way as to enable the dry mass of the fibres to be determined without loss.
I.7.1.2. Cooling
Conduct all cooling operations in the desiccator, the latter placed beside the balance, until complete cooling of the weighing bottles is attained, and in any case for not less than 2 hours.
I.7.1.3. Weighing
After cooling, complete the weighing of the weighing bottle within 2 minutes of its removal from the desiccator. Weigh to an accuracy of 0,0002 g.
I.7.2. Procedure
Take from the pre-treated laboratory test sample a test specimen weighing at least 1 g. Cut yarn or cloth into lengths of about 10 mm, dissected as much as possible. Dry the specimen in a weighing bottle, cool it in the desiccator and weigh it. Transfer the specimen to the glass vessel specified in the appropriate section of the relevant Union method, reweigh the weighing bottle immediately and obtain the dry mass of the specimen by difference. Complete the test as specified in the appropriate section of the applicable method. Examine the residue microscopically to check that the treatment has in fact completely removed the soluble fibre.
I.8. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Express the mass of the insoluble component as a percentage of the total mass of fibre in the mixture. The percentage of soluble component is obtained by difference. Calculate the results on the basis of clean, dry mass, adjusted by (a) the agreed allowances and (b) the correction factors necessary to take account of loss of matter during pre-treatment and analysis. Calculations shall be made by applying the formula given in I.8.2.
I.8.1.
Calculation of percentage of insoluble component on clean, dry mass basis, disregarding loss of fibre mass during pre-treatment:
image
where
P1%
is the percentage of clean, dry insoluble component,
m
is the dry mass of the test specimen after pre-treatment,
r
is the dry mass of the residue,
d
is the correction factor for loss in mass of the insoluble component in the reagent during the analysis. Suitable values for ‘d’ are given in the relevant section of each method.
Of course, these values for ‘d’ are the normal values applicable to chemically undegraded fibres.
I.8.2.
Calculation of percentage of insoluble component on clean, dry mass basis, with adjustment by conventional factors and, where appropriate, correction factors for loss of mass during pre-treatment:
image
where
P1A%
is the percentage of insoluble component adjusted by agreed allowances and for loss in mass during pre-treatment,
P1
is the percentage of clean dry insoluble component as calculated from the formula shown in I.8.1,
a1
is the agreed allowance for the insoluble component (see Annex IX),
a2
is the agreed allowance for the soluble component (see Annex IX),
b1
is the percentage loss of insoluble component caused by pre-treatment,
b2
is the percentage loss of soluble component caused by pre-treatment.
The percentage of the second component is P2A % = 100 – P1A %.
Where a special pre-treatment has been used, the values of b1 and b2 shall be determined, if possible, by submitting each of the pure fibre constituents to the pre-treatment applied in the analysis. Pure fibres are those free from all non-fibrous material except that which they normally contain (either naturally or because of the manufacturing process), in the state (unbleached, bleached) in which they are found in the material to be analysed.
Where no clean separate constituent fibres used in the manufacture of the material to be analysed are available, average values of b1 and b2 as obtained from tests performed on clean fibres similar to those in the mixture under examination, shall be used.
If normal pre-treatment by extraction with light petroleum and water is applied, correction factors b1 and b2 may generally be ignored, except in the case of unbleached cotton, unbleached flax (or linen) and unbleached hemp, where the loss due to the pre-treatment is conventionally taken as 4 %, and in the case of polypropylene, where it is taken as 1 %.
In the case of other fibres, losses due to the pre-treatment are conventionally disregarded in calculations.
II. Method of quantitative analysis by manual separation
II.1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable to textile fibres of all types provided they do not form an intimate mixture and that it is possible to separate them by hand.
II.2. PRINCIPLE
After identification of the constituents of the textile, the non-fibrous material is removed by suitable pre-treatment and then the fibres are separated by hand, dried and weighed in order to calculate the proportion of each fibre in the mixture.
II.3. APPARATUS
II.3.1.
Weighing bottle or any other apparatus giving identical results.
II.3.2.
Desiccator containing self-indicating silica gel.
II.3.3.
Ventilated oven for drying specimens at 105 ± 3 °C.
II.3.4.
Analytical balance, accurate to 0,0002 g.
II.3.5.
Soxhlet extractor, or other apparatus giving an identical result.
II.3.6.
Needle.
II.3.7.
Twist tester or similar apparatus.
II.4. REAGENTS
II.4.1.
Light petroleum, redistilled, boiling range 40 to 60 °C.
II.4.2.
Distilled or deionised water.
II.4.3.
Acetone.
II.4.4.
Orthophosphoric acid.
II.4.5.
Urea.
II.4.6.
Sodium bicarbonate.
All reagents used shall be chemically pure.
II.5. CONDITIONING AND TESTING ATMOSPHERE
See I.4.
II.6. LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE
See I.5.
II.7. PRE-TREATMENT OF LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE
See I.6.
II.8. PROCEDURE
II.8.1. Analysis of yarn
Select from the pre-treatment laboratory test sample a specimen of mass not less than 1 g. For a very fine yarn, the analysis may be made on a minimum length of 30 m, whatever its mass.
Cut the yarn into pieces of a suitable length and separate the fibre types by means of a needle and, if necessary, a twist tester. The fibre types so obtained are placed in pre-weighed weighing bottles and dried at 105 ± 3 °C until a constant mass is obtained, as described in I.7.1 and I.7.2.
II.8.2. Analysis of cloth
Select from the pre-treated laboratory test sample, well away from all selvedges, a specimen of mass not less than 1 g, with edges carefully trimmed to avoid fraying and running parallel with weft or warp yarns, or in the case of knitted fabrics in the line of wales and courses. Separate the different fibre types, collect them in pre-weighed weighing bottles and proceed as described in II.8.1.
II.9. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Express the mass of each fibre constituent as a percentage of the total mass of the fibres in the mixture. Calculate the results on the basis of clean, dry mass, adjusted by (a) the agreed allowances and (b) the correction factors necessary to take account of loss of matter during pre-treatment.
II.9.1.
Calculation of percentage masses of clean, dry fibre, disregarding loss of fibre mass during pre-treatment:
image
P1%
is the percentage of the first clean, dry component,
m1
is the clean, dry mass of the first component,
m2
is the clean, dry mass of the second component.
II.9.2.
For calculation of the percentage of each component with adjustment by agreed allowances and, where appropriate, by correction factors for loss of matter during pre-treatment, see I.8.2.
III.1. PRECISION OF THE METHODS
The precision indicated in individual methods relates to the reproducibility.
The reproducibility refers to the reliability, i.e. the closeness of agreement between experimental values obtained by operators in different laboratories or at different times using the same method and obtaining individual results on specimens of an identical consistent mixture.
The reproducibility is expressed by confidence limits of the results for a confidence level of 95 %.
Therefore, the difference between two results in a series of analyses made in different laboratories would, given a normal and correct application of the method to an identical and consistent mixture, exceed the confidence limit only in five cases out of 100.
III.2. TEST REPORT
III.2.1.
State that the analysis was conducted in accordance with this method.
III.2.2.
Give details of any special pre-treatment (see I.6).
III.2.3.
Give the individual results and the arithmetic mean, each to an accuracy of 0,1.
IV. Special methods
▼M2
Summary Table
Method
Field of application (1)
Reagent
Soluble component
Insoluble component
1.
Acetate
Certain other fibres
Acetone
2.
Certain protein fibres
Certain other fibres
Hypochlorite
3.
Viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
Certain other fibres
Formic acid and zinc chloride
4.
Polyamide or nylon
Certain other fibres
Formic acid, 80 % m/m
5.
Acetate
Certain other fibres
Benzyl alcohol
6.
Triacetate or polylactide
Certain other fibres
Dichloromethane
7.
Certain cellulose fibres
Certain other fibres
Sulphuric acid, 75 % m/m
8.
Acrylics, certain modacrylics or certain chlorofibres
Certain other fibres
Dimethylformamide
9.
Certain chlorofibres
Certain other fibres
Carbon disulphide/acetone, 55,5/44,5 v/v
10.
Acetate
Certain other fibres
Glacial acetic acid
11.
Silk, polyamide or nylon
Certain other fibres
Sulphuric acid, 75 % m/m
12.
Jute
Certain animal fibres
Nitrogen content method
13.
Polypropylene
Certain other fibres
Xylene
14.
Certain fibres
Certain other fibres
Concentrated sulphuric acid method
15.
Chlorofibres, certain modacrylics, certain elastanes, acetates, triacetates
Certain other fibres
Cyclohexanone
16.
Melamine
Certain other fibres
Hot formic acid 90 % m/m
(1) Detailed list of fibres under each method.
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. acetate (19)
with
▼M2
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), flax (7) true hemp (8), jute (9), abaca (10), alfa (11), coir (12), broom (13), ramie (14), sisal (15), cupro (21), modal (22), protein (23), viscose (25), acrylic (26), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), elastomultiester (45), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
In no circumstances is the method applicable to acetate fibres which have been deacetylated on the surface.
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The acetate is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with acetone. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry acetate is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (additional to those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
Glass-stoppered conical flasks of at least 200 ml capacity.
3.2. Reagent
Acetone.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the test specimen contained in a glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add 100 ml of acetone per gram of test specimen, shake the flask, stand it for 30 minutes at room temperature, stirring from time to time, and then decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible.
Repeat the treatment twice more (making three extractions in all), but for periods of 15 minutes only, so that the total time of treatment in acetone is 1 hour. Transfer the residue to the filter crucible. Wash the residue in the filter crucible with acetone and drain with suction. Refill the crucible with acetone and allow to drain under gravity.
Finally, drain the crucible with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. certain protein fibres, namely: wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), protein (23)
with
▼M2
2. cotton (5), cupro (21), viscose (25), acrylic (26), chlorofibres (27), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), elastane (43), glass fibre (44) elastomultiester (45), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
If different protein fibres are present, the method gives the total of their amounts but not their individual quantities.
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The protein fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with a hypochlorite solution. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry protein fibre is found by difference.
Either lithium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite can be used for the preparation of the hypochlorite solution.
Lithium hypochlorite is recommended in cases involving a small number of analyses or for analyses conducted at fairly lengthy intervals. This is because the percentage of hypochlorite in solid lithium hypochlorite — unlike that in sodium hypochlorite — is virtually constant. If the percentage of hypochlorite is known, hypochlorite content need not be checked iodometrically for each analysis, since a constant weighed portion of lithium hypochlorite can be employed.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Erlenmeyer flask with ground-glass stopper, 250 ml.
(b) Thermostat, adjustable to 20 ± 2 °C.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Hypochlorite reagent
(i) Lithium hypochlorite solution
This consists of a freshly prepared solution containing 35 ± 2 g/l of active chlorine (approximately 1 M), to which 5 ± 0,5 g/l of previously dissolved sodium hydroxide is added. To prepare, dissolve 100 grams of lithium hypochlorite containing 35 % active chlorine (or 115 grams containing 30 % active chlorine) in approximately 700 ml of distilled water, add 5 grams of sodium hydroxide dissolved in approximately 200 ml of distilled water and make up to 1 litre with distilled water. The solution which has been freshly prepared need not be checked iodometrically.
(ii) Sodium hypochlorite solution
This consists of a freshly prepared solution containing 35 ± 2 g/l of active chlorine (approximately 1 M) to which 5 ± 0,5 g/l of previously dissolved sodium hydroxide is added.
Check the active chlorine content of the solution iodometrically before each analysis.
(b) Acetic acid, dilute solution
Dilute 5 ml of glacial acetic acid to 1 litre with water.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows: mix approximately 1 gram of the test specimen with approximately 100 ml of the hypochlorite solution (lithium or sodium hypochlorite) in the 250 ml flask and agitate thoroughly in order to wet out the test specimen.
Then heat the flask for 40 minutes in a thermostat at 20 °C and agitate continuously, or at least at regular intervals. Since the dissolution of the wool proceeds exothermically, the reaction heat of this method must be distributed and removed. Otherwise, considerable errors may be caused by the incipient dissolution of the non-soluble fibres.
After 40 minutes, filter the flask contents through a weighed glass-filter crucible and transfer any residual fibres into the filter crucible by rinsing the flask with a little hypochlorite reagent. Drain the crucible with suction and wash the residue successively with water, dilute acetic acid, and finally water, draining the crucible with suction after each addition. Do not apply suction until each washing liquor has drained under gravity.
Finally, drain the crucible with suction, dry the crucible with the residue, and cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for cotton, viscose, modal and melamine for which ‘d’ = 1,01, and unbleached cotton, for which ‘d’ = 1,03.
6. PRECISION
On homogeneous mixtures of textile materials, the confidence limits for results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. viscose (25) or cupro (21), including certain types of modal fibre (22)
with
▼M2
2. cotton (5), polypropylene (37), elastolefin (46) and melamine (47).
If a modal fibre is found to be present, a preliminary test shall be carried out to see whether it is soluble in the reagent.
This method is not applicable to mixtures in which the cotton has suffered extensive chemical degradation nor when the viscose or cupro is rendered incompletely soluble by the presence of certain dyes or finishes that cannot be removed completely.
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The viscose, cupro or modal fibre is dissolved from a known dry mass of the mixture, with a reagent consisting of formic acid and zinc chloride. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its corrected mass is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry viscose, cupro or modal fibre is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flasks of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Apparatus for maintaining flasks at 40 ± 2 °C.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Solution containing 20 g of fused anhydrous zinc chloride and 68 g of anhydrous formic acid made up to 100 g with water (namely 20 parts by mass of fused anhydrous zinc chloride to 80 parts by mass of 85 % m/m formic acid).
Attention is drawn, in this respect, to point I.3.2.2, which lays down that all reagents used shall be chemically pure; in addition, it is essential to use only fused anhydrous zinc chloride.
(b) Ammonium hydroxide solution: dilute 20 ml of a concentrated ammonia solution (relative density at 20 °C: 0,880) to 1 litre with water.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows: place the specimen immediately in the flask, pre-heated to 40 °C. Add 100 ml of the solution of formic acid and zinc chloride, pre-heated to 40 °C per gram of specimen. Insert the stopper and shake the flask vigorously. Keep the flask and its contents at a constant temperature of 40 °C for 2,5 hours, shaking the flask at hourly intervals.
Filter the contents of the flask through the weighed filter crucible and with the help of the reagent transfer to the crucible any fibres remaining in the flask. Rinse with 20 ml of reagent pre-heated to 40 °C.
Wash crucible and residue thoroughly with water at 40 °C. Rinse the fibrous residue in approximately 100 ml of cold ammonia solution (3.2(b)) ensuring that this residue remains wholly immersed in the solution for 10 minutes ( 20 ); then rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Do not apply suction until each washing liquor has drained under gravity.
Finally, drain the remaining liquid with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
▼M2
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for cotton, for which ‘d’ = 1,02 and for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
▼B
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 2 for a confidence level of 95 %.
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. polyamide or nylon (30)
with
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose (25), acrylic (26), chlorofibre (27), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), glass fibre (44), elastomultiester (45), elastolefin (46) and melamine (47).
As mentioned above, this method is also applicable to mixtures with wool, but when the wool content exceeds 25 %, method No 2 shall be applied (dissolving wool in a solution of alkaline sodium hypochlorite or lithium hypochlorite).
2. PRINCIPLE
The polyamide or nylon fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with formic acid. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry polyamide or nylon is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Formic acid (80 % m/m, relative density at 20 °C: 1,186). Dilute 880 ml of 90 % m/m formic acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,204) to 1 litre with water. Alternatively, dilute 780 ml of 98 to 100 % m/m formic acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,220) to 1 litre with water.
The concentration is not critical within the range 77 to 83 % m/m formic acid.
(b) Ammonia, dilute solution: dilute 80 ml of concentrated ammonia solution (relative density at 20 °C: 0,880) to 1 litre with water.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows: to the specimen contained in the conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add 100 ml of formic acid per gram of specimen. Insert the stopper, shake the flask to wet out the specimen. Stand the flask for 15 minutes at room temperature, shaking it at intervals. Filter the contents of the flask through the weighed filter crucible and transfer any residual fibres to the crucible by washing out the flask with a little formic acid reagent.
Drain the crucible with suction and wash the residue on the filter successively with formic acid reagent, hot water, dilute ammonia solution, and finally cold water, draining the crucible with suction after each addition. Do not apply suction until each washing liquor has drained under gravity.
Finally, drain the crucible with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. acetate (19)
with
▼M2
2. triacetate (24), polypropylene (37), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The acetate fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with benzyl alcohol at 52 ± 2 °C.
The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry acetate is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Mechanical shaker.
(c) Thermostat or other apparatus for keeping the flask at a temperature of 52 ± 2 °C.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Benzyl alcohol.
(b) Ethanol.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in the conical flask, add 100 ml of benzyl alcohol per gram of specimen. Insert the stopper, secure the flask to the shaker so that it is immersed in the water-bath, kept at 52 ± 2 °C, and shake for 20 minutes at this temperature.
(Instead of using a mechanical shaker, the flask may be shaken vigorously by hand).
Decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible. Add a further dose of benzyl alcohol in the flask and shake as before at 52 ± 2 °C for 20 minutes.
Decant the liquid through the crucible. Repeat the cycle of operations a third time.
Finally pour the liquid and the residue into the crucible; wash any remaining fibres from the flask into the crucible with an extra quantity of benzyl alcohol at 52 ± 2 °C. Drain the crucible thoroughly.
Transfer the fibres into a flask, rinse with ethanol and after shaking manually decant through the filter crucible.
Repeat this rinsing operation two or three times. Transfer the residue into the crucible and drain thoroughly. Dry the crucible and the residue and cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. triacetate (24) or polylactide (34)
with
▼M2
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose (25), acrylic (26), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), glass fibre (44) elastomultiester (45), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
Triacetate fibres which have received a finish leading to partial hydrolysis cease to be completely soluble in the reagent. In such cases, the method is not applicable.
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The triacetate or polylactide fibres are dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with dichloromethane. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry triacetate or polylactide is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
3.2. Reagent
Dichloromethane.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the test specimen contained in the 200 ml glass-stoppered conical flask, add 100 ml of dichloromethane per gram of the test specimen, insert the stopper, shake the flask to wet out the test specimen and stand for 30 minutes at room temperature, shaking the flask every 10 minutes. Decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible. Add 60 ml of dichloromethane to the flask containing the residue, shake manually and filter the contents of the flask through the filter crucible. Transfer the residual fibres to the crucible by washing out the flask with a little more dichloromethane. Drain the crucible with suction to remove excess liquid, refill the crucible with dichloromethane and allow it to drain under gravity.
Finally, apply suction to eliminate excess liquid, then treat the residue with boiling water to eliminate all the solvent, apply suction, dry the crucible and residue, cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except in the case of polyester, elastomultiester, elastolefin and melamine for which the value of ‘d’ is 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. cotton (5), flax (or linen) (7), true hemp (8), ramie (14), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose (25)
with
▼M2
2. polyester (35), polypropylene (37), elastomultiester (45), elastolefin (46) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The cellulose fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with 75 % m/m sulphuric acid. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The proportion of dry cellulose fibre is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 500 ml capacity.
(b) Thermostat or other apparatus for maintaining the flask at 50 ± 5 °C.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Sulphuric acid, 75 ± 2 % m/m
Prepare by adding carefully, while cooling, 700 ml of sulphuric acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,84) to 350 ml of distilled water.
After the solution has cooled to room temperature, dilute to 1 litre with water.
(b) Ammonia, dilute solution
Dilute 80 ml of ammonia solution (relative density at 20 °C: 0,880) to 1 litre with water.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in the glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 500 ml capacity, add 200 ml of 75 % sulphuric acid per gram of specimen, insert the stopper and carefully shake the flask to wet out the specimen.
Maintain the flask at 50 ± 5 °C for 1 hour, shaking it at regular intervals of approximately 10 minutes. Filter the contents of the flask through the weighed filter crucible by means of suction. Transfer any residual fibres by washing out the flask with a little 75 % sulphuric acid. Drain the crucible with suction and wash the residue on the filter once by filling the crucible with a fresh portion of sulphuric acid. Do not apply suction until the acid has drained under gravity.
Wash the residue successively several times with cold water, twice with dilute ammonia solution, and then thoroughly with cold water, draining the crucible with suction after each addition. Do not apply suction until each washing liquor has drained under gravity. Finally, drain the remaining liquid from the crucible with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
▼M2
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent, for which the value of ‘d’ is 1,01.
▼B
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. acrylics (26), certain modacrylics (29), or certain chlorofibres (27) ( 21 )
with
▼M2
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose (25), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), elastomultiester (45), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
It is equally applicable to acrylics, and certain modacrylics, treated with pre-metallised dyes, but not to those dyed with afterchrome dyes.
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The acrylic, modacrylic or chlorofibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with dimethylformamide heated in a water-bath at boiling point. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed. Its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture and the percentage of dry acrylic, modacrylic or chlorofibre is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Water bath at boiling point.
3.2. Reagent
Dimethylformamide (boiling point 153 ± 1 °C) not containing more than 0,1 % water.
This reagent is toxic and the use of a hood is thus recommended.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in the glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add per gram of specimen 80 ml of dimethylformamide, pre-heated in the water-bath at boiling point, insert the stopper, shake the flask to wet out the specimen and heat in the water-bath at boiling point for 1 hour. Shake the flask and its contents gently by hand five times during this period.
Decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible, retaining the fibres in the flask. Add a further 60 ml of dimethylformamide to the flask and heat for a further 30 minutes, shaking the flask and contents gently by hand twice during this period.
Filter the contents of the flask through the filter crucible by means of suction.
Transfer any residual fibre to the crucible by washing out the beaker with dimethylformamide. Drain the crucible with suction. Wash the residue with about 1 litre of hot water at 70-80 °C, filling the crucible each time.
After each addition of water, apply suction briefly but not until the water has drained under gravity. If the washing liquor drains through the crucible too slowly slight suction may be applied.
Finally dry the crucible with the residue, cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except in the case of wool, cotton, cupro, modal, polyester, elastomultiester and melamine, for which the value of ‘d’ is 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. certain chlorofibres (27), namely certain polyvinyl chloride fibres, whether after-chlorinated or not ( 22 )
with
▼M2
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose (25), acrylic (26), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), glass fibre (44), elastomultiester (45), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
When the wool or silk content of the mixture exceeds 25 %, method No 2 shall be used.
When the polyamide or nylon content of the mixture exceeds 25 %, method No 4 shall be used.
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The chlorofibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with an azeotropic mixture of carbon disulphide and acetone. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry polyvinyl chloride fibre is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Mechanical shaker.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Azeotropic mixture of carbon disulphide and acetone (55,5 % by volume carbon disulphide to 44,5 % acetone). As this reagent is toxic, the use of a hood is recommended.
(b) Ethanol (92 % by volume) or methanol.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in the glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add 100 ml of the azeotropic mixture per gram of specimen. Seal the flask securely, and shake the flask on a mechanical shaker, or vigorously by hand, for 20 minutes at room temperature.
Decant the supernatant liquid through the weighed filter crucible.
Repeat the treatment with 100 ml of fresh reagent. Continue this cycle of operations until no polymer deposit is left on a watch glass when a drop of the extraction liquid is evaporated. Transfer the residue to the filter crucible using more reagent, apply suction to remove the liquid, and rinse the crucible and residue with 20 ml of alcohol and then three times with water. Allow the washing liquor to drain under gravity before draining with suction. Dry the crucible and residue and cool and weigh them.
With certain mixtures having a high chlorofibre content there may be substantial shrinkage of the specimen during the drying procedure, as a result of which the dissolution of chlorofibre by the solvent is retarded.
This does not, however, affect the ultimate dissolution of the chlorofibre in the solvent.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of the results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. acetate (19)
with
▼M2
2. certain chlorofibres (27) namely polyvinyl chloride fibres, whether after-chlorinated or not, polypropylene (37), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The acetate fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with glacial acetic acid. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of dry acetate is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Mechanical shaker.
3.2. Reagent
Glacial acetic acid (over 99 %). This reagent shall be handled with care since it is highly caustic.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in the glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add 100 ml glacial acetic acid per gram of specimen. Seal the flask securely and shake on the mechanical shaker, or vigorously by hand, for 20 minutes at room temperature. Decant the supernatant liquid through the weighed filter crucible. Repeat this treatment twice, using 100 ml of fresh reagent each time, making three extractions in all.
Transfer the residue to the filter crucible, drain with suction to remove the liquid and rinse the crucible and the residue with 50 ml of glacial acetic acid, and then three times with water. After each rinse, allow the liquid to drain under gravity before applying suction. Dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of the results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary mixtures of:
1. silk (4) or polyamide or nylon (30)
with
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), polypropylene (37), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
2. PRINCIPLE
The silk or polyamide or nylon fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture, with 75 % m/m sulphuric acid ( 23 ).
The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed. Its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of the dry silk or polyamide or nylon is found by difference.
▼B
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Sulphuric acid (75 ± 2 % m/m)
Prepare by adding carefully, while cooling, 700 ml sulphuric acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,84) to 350 ml distilled water.
After cooling to room temperature, dilute the solution to 1 litre with water.
(b) Sulphuric acid, dilute solution: add 100 ml sulphuric acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,84) slowly to 1 900 ml distilled water.
(c) Ammonia, dilute solution: dilute 200 ml concentrated ammonia (relative density at 20 °C: 0,880) to 1 litre with water.
▼M2
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in a glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add 100 ml of 75 % m/m sulphuric acid per gram of specimen and insert the stopper. Shake vigorously and stand for 30 minutes at room temperature. Shake again and stand for 30 minutes. Shake a last time and filter the contents of the flask through the weighed filter crucible. Wash any remaining fibres from the flask with the 75 % sulphuric acid reagent. Wash the residue on the crucible successively with 50 ml of the dilute sulphuric acid reagent, 50 ml water and 50 ml of the dilute ammonia solution. Each time allow the fibres to remain in contact with the liquid for about 10 minutes before applying suction. Finally rinse with water, leaving the fibres in contact with the water for about 30 minutes. Drain the crucible with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
In the case of binary mixtures of polyamide with polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent, after filtering fibres through the weighed filter crucible and before applying the described washing procedure, wash twice the residue on the filter crucible with 50 ml of 75 % sulphuric acid reagent each time.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for wool, for which ‘d’ = 0,985, for polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent, for which ‘d’ = 1,005 and for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %, except for binary mixtures of polyamide with polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent for which the confidence limits of results are not greater than ± 2.
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. jute (9)
with
2. certain animal fibres.
The animal-fibre component may consist solely of hair (2 and 3) or wool (1) or of any mixture of the two. This method is not applicable to textile mixtures containing non-fibrous matter (dyes, finishes, etc.) with a nitrogen base.
2. PRINCIPLE
The nitrogen content of the mixture is determined, and from this and the known or assumed nitrogen contents of the two components, the proportion of each component is calculated.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Kjeldahl digestion flask, 200-300 ml capacity.
(b) Kjeldahl distillation apparatus with steam injection.
(c) Titration apparatus, allowing precision of 0,05 ml.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Toluene.
(b) Methanol.
(c) Sulphuric acid, relative density at 20 °C: 1,84 ( 24 ).
(d) Potassium sulphate (24) .
(e) Selenium dioxide (24) .
(f) Sodium hydroxide solution (400 g/litre). Dissolve 400 g of sodium hydroxide in 400-500 ml of water and dilute to 1 litre with water.
(g) Mixed indicator. Dissolve 0,1 g of methyl red in 95 ml of ethanol and 5 ml of water, and mix with 0,5 g of bromocresol green dissolved in 475 ml of ethanol and 25 ml of water.
(h) Boric acid solution. Dissolve 20 g of boric acid in 1 litre of water.
(i) Sulphuric acid, 0,02N (standard volumetric solution).
4. PRE-TREATMENT OF TEST SAMPLE
The following pre-treatment is substituted for the pre-treatment described in the general instructions:
Extract the air-dry laboratory test sample in a Soxhlet apparatus with a mixture of 1 volume of toluene and 3 volumes of methanol for 4 hours at a minimum rate of 5 cycles per hour. Allow the solvent to evaporate from the sample in air, and remove the last traces in an oven at 105 ± 3 °C. Then extract the sample in water (50 ml per g of sample) by boiling under reflux for 30 minutes. Filter, return the sample to the flask, and repeat the extraction with an identical volume of water. Filter, remove excess water from the sample by squeezing, suction, or centrifuging and then allow the sample to become air-dry.
The toxic effects of toluene and methanol shall be borne in mind and full precautions shall be taken in their use.
5. TEST PROCEDURE
5.1. General instructions
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions as regards the selection, drying and weighing of the specimen.
5.2. Detailed procedure
Transfer the specimen to a Kjeldahl digestion flask. To the specimen weighing at least 1 g contained in the digestion flask, add, in the following order, 2,5 g potassium sulphate, 0,1-0,2 g selenium dioxide and 10 ml sulphuric acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,84). Heat the flask, gently at first, until the whole of the fibre is destroyed, and then heat it more vigorously until the solution becomes clear and almost colourless. Heat it for a further 15 minutes. Allow the flask to cool, dilute the contents carefully with 10-20 ml water, cool, transfer the contents quantitatively to a 200 ml graduated flask and make up to volume with water to form the digest solution. Place about 20 ml of boric acid solution in a 100 ml conical flask and place the flask under the condenser of the Kjeldahl distillation apparatus so that the delivery tube dips just below the surface of the boric acid solution. Transfer exactly 10 ml of digest solution to the distillation flask, add not less than 5 ml of sodium hydroxide solution to the funnel, lift the stopper slightly and allow the sodium hydroxide solution to run slowly into the flask. If the digest solution and sodium hydroxide solution remain as two separate layers, mix them by gentle agitation. Heat the distillation flask gently and pass it into steam from the generator. Collect about 20 ml of distillate, lower the conical flask so that the tip of the delivery tube of the condenser is about 20 mm above the surface of the liquid and distil for 1 minute more. Rinse the tip of the delivery tube with water, catching the washings in the conical flask. Remove the conical flask and replace it with another conical flask containing roughly 10 ml of boric acid solution and collect about 10 ml distillate.
Titrate the two distillates separately with 0,02 N sulphuric acid, use the mixed indicator. Record the total titre for the two distillates. If the titre for the second distillate is more than 0,2 ml, repeat the test and start the distillation again using a fresh aliquot of digest solution.
Carry out a blank determination, i.e. digestion and distillation using the reagents only.
6. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
6.1. Calculate the percentage nitrogen content in the dry specimen as follows:
image
where
A
=
percentage nitrogen in the clean dry specimen,
V
=
total volume in ml of standard sulphuric acid used in the determination,
b
=
total volume in ml of standard sulphuric acid used in the blank determination,
N
=
normality of standard sulphuric acid,
W
=
dry mass (g) of specimen.
6.2. Using the values of 0,22 % for the nitrogen content of jute and 16,2 % for the nitrogen content of animal fibre, both percentages being expressed on the dry mass of the fibre, calculate the composition of the mixture as follows:
image
where
PA%
=
percentage of animal fibre in the clean dry specimen.
7. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. polypropylene fibres (37)
with
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), acetate (19), cupro (21), modal (22), triacetate (24), viscose (25), acrylic (26), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), glass fibre (44), elastomultiester (45) and melamine (47).
2. PRINCIPLE
The polypropylene fibre is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture with boiling xylene. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of polypropylene is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Reflux condenser (suitable for liquids of high boiling point), fitting the conical flask (a).
(c) Heating mantle at boiling point of xylene.
3.2. Reagent
Xylene distilling between 137 and 142 °C.
Xylene is highly flammable and has a toxic vapour. Suitable precautions must be taken in its use.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions then proceed as follows:
To the specimen contained in the conical flask (3.1(a)), add 100 ml of xylene (3.2) per gram of specimen. Attach the condenser (3.1(b)), bring the contents to the boil and maintain at boiling point for 3 minutes.
Immediately decant the hot liquid through the weighed filter crucible (see Note 1). Repeat this treatment twice more, each time using a fresh 50 ml portion of solvent.
Wash the residue remaining in the flask successively with 30 ml of boiling xylene (twice), then with 75 ml of light petroleum (I.3.2.1 of general instructions) (twice). After the second wash with light petroleum, filter the contents of the flask through the crucible, transfer any residual fibres to the crucible with the aid of a small quantity of light petroleum and allow the solvent to evaporate. Dry the crucible and residue, cool and weigh them.
1. The filter crucible through which the xylene is to be decanted must be pre-heated.
2. After the treatment with boiling xylene, ensure that the flask containing the residue is cooled sufficiently before the light petroleum is introduced.
3. In order to reduce the fire and toxicity hazards to the operator, a hot extraction apparatus using the appropriate procedures, giving identical results, may be used ( 25 ).
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for melamine, for which ‘d’ = 1,01.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. cotton (5), acetate (19), cupro (21), modal (22), triacetate (24), viscose (25), certain acrylics (26), certain modacrylics (29), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35) and elastomultiester (45)
with
▼M2
2. chlorofibres (27) based on homopolymers of vinyl chloride, whether after-chlorinated or not, polypropylene (37), elastolefin (46), melamine (47) and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (49).
The modacrylics concerned are those which give a limpid solution when immersed in concentrated sulphuric acid (relative density 1,84 at 20 °C).
This method can be used in place of methods No 8 and 9.
2. PRINCIPLE
The constituent other than the chlorofibre, polypropylene, elastolefin, melamine or polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (i.e. the fibres mentioned in paragraph 1.1) is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture with concentrated sulphuric acid (relative density 1,84 at 20 °C). The residue, consisting of the chlorofibre, polypropylene, elastolefin, melamine or polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of the second constituents is obtained by difference.
▼B
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Glass rod with flattened end.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Sulphuric acid, concentrated (relative density at 20 °C: 1,84).
(b) Sulphuric acid, approximately 50 % (m/m) aqueous solution.
Prepare by adding carefully, while cooling, 400 ml of sulphuric acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,84) to 500 ml of distilled or deionised water. After cooling to room temperature, dilute the solution to one litre with water.
(c) Ammonia, dilute solution.
Dilute 60 ml of concentrated ammonia solution (relative density at 20 °C: 0,880) to one litre with distilled water.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions, then proceed as follows:
To the test specimen contained in the flask (3.1(a)) add 100 ml of sulphuric acid (3.2(a)) per gram of specimen.
Allow the contents of the flask to remain at room temperature for 10 minutes and during that time stir the test specimen occasionally by means of the glass rod. If a woven or knitted fabric is being treated, wedge it between the wall of the flask and the glass rod and exert a light pressure in order to separate the material dissolved by the sulphuric acid.
Decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible. Add to the flask a fresh portion of 100 ml of sulphuric acid (3.2(a)) and repeat the same operation. Transfer the contents of the flask to the filter crucible and transfer the fibrous residue there with the aid of the glass rod. If necessary, add a little concentrated sulphuric acid (3.2(a)) to the flask in order to remove any fibres adhering to the wall. Drain the filter crucible with suction; remove the filtrate by emptying or changing the filter-flask, wash the residue in the crucible successively with 50 % sulphuric acid solution (3.2(b)), distilled or deionised water (I.3.2.3 of the general instructions), ammonia solution (3.2(c)) and finally wash thoroughly with distilled or deionised water, draining the crucible with suction after each addition. (Do not apply suction during the washing operation, but only after the liquid has drained off by gravity.) Dry the crucible and residue, cool and weigh them.
▼M2
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00, except for melamine and polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent, for which the value of ‘d’ is 1,01.
▼B
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. acetate (19), triacetate (24), chlorofibre (27), certain modacrylics (29), certain elastanes (43)
with
2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose (25), polyamide or nylon (30), acrylic (26), glass fibre (44) and melamine (47).
Where modacrylics or elastanes are present a preliminary test must first be carried out to determine whether the fibre is completely soluble in the reagent.
It is also possible to analyse mixtures containing chlorofibres by using method No 9 or 14.
2. PRINCIPLE
The acetate and triacetate fibres, chlorofibres, certain modacrylics, and certain elastanes are dissolved out from a known dry mass with cyclohexanone at a temperature close to boiling point. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of chlorofibre, modacrylic, elastane, acetate and triacetate is found by difference.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Hot extraction apparatus suitable for use in the test procedure in point 4 (see figure: this is a variant of the apparatus described in Melliand Textilberichte 56 (1975) pp. 643-645).
(b) Filter crucible to contain the test specimen.
(c) Porous baffle (porosity grade 1).
(d) Reflux condenser that can be adapted to the distillation flask.
(e) Heating device.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Cyclohexanone, boiling point 156 °C.
(b) Ethyl alcohol, 50 % by volume.
Cyclohexanone is flammable and toxic. Suitable precautions must be taken in its use.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions and then proceed as follows:
Pour into the distillation flask 100 ml of cyclohexanone per gram of material, insert the extraction container in which the filter crucible, containing the specimen and the porous baffle, slightly inclined, have previously been placed. Insert the reflux condenser. Bring to the boil and continue extraction for 60 minutes at a minimum rate of 12 cycles per hour.
After extraction and cooling remove the extraction container, take out the filter crucible and remove the porous baffle. Wash the contents of the filter crucible three or four times with 50 % ethyl alcohol heated to about 60 °C and subsequently with 1 litre of water at 60 °C.
Do not apply suction during or between the washing operations. Allow the liquid to drain under gravity and then apply suction.
Finally, dry the crucible with the residue, cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00 except in the case of silk and melamine for which ‘d’ = 1,01, and acrylic, for which ‘d’ = 0,98.
6. PRECISION
On homogeneous mixtures of textile fibres, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 1 for a confidence level of 95 %.
image
▼M2
▼B
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary fibre mixtures of:
1. melamine (47)
with
▼M2
2. cotton (5), aramid (31) and polypropylene (37).
▼B
2. PRINCIPLE
The melamine is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture with hot formic acid (90 % m/m).
The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of the second constituents is obtained by difference.
Keep strictly the recommended temperature range because the solubility of melamine is very much dependent on temperature.
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general instructions)
3.1. Apparatus
(a) Glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity.
(b) Shaking water bath or other apparatus to shake and maintain the flask at 90 ± 2 °C.
3.2. Reagents
(a) Formic acid (90 % m/m, relative density at 20 °C: 1,204). Dilute 890 ml of 98 to 100 % m/m formic acid (relative density at 20 °C: 1,220) to 1 litre with water.
Hot formic acid is very corrosive and must be handled with care.
(b) Ammonia, dilute solution: dilute 80 ml of concentrated ammonia solution (relative density at 20 °C: 0,880) to 1 litre with water.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
Follow the procedure described in the general instructions, then proceed as follows:
To the test specimen contained in the glass-stoppered conical flask of at least 200 ml capacity, add 100 ml of formic acid per gram of specimen. Insert the stopper and shake the flask to wet out the specimen. Maintain the flask in a shaking water bath at 90 ± 2 °C for 1 hour, shaking it vigorously. Cool the flask to room temperature. Decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible. Add 50 ml of formic acid to the flask containing the residue, shake manually and filter the contents of the flask through the filter crucible. Transfer any residual fibres to the crucible by washing out the flask with a little more formic acid reagent. Drain the crucible with suction and wash the residue with formic acid reagent, hot water, dilute ammonia solution, and finally cold water, draining the crucible with suction after each addition. Do not apply suction until each washing liquor has drained under gravity. Finally, drain the crucible with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,02.
6. PRECISION
On a homogeneous mixture of textile materials, the confidence limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than ± 2 for a confidence level of 95 %.
CHAPTER 3
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF TERNARY TEXTILE FIBRE MIXTURES
INTRODUCTION
In general, the methods of quantitative chemical analysis are based on the selective solution of the individual components. There are four possible variants of this method:
1. Using two different test specimens, a component (a) is dissolved from the first test specimen, and another component (b) from the second test specimen. The insoluble residues of each specimen are weighed and the percentage of each of the two soluble components is calculated from the respective losses in mass. The percentage of the third component (c) is calculated by difference.
2. Using two different test specimens, a component (a) is dissolved from the first test specimen and two components (a and b) from the second test specimen. The insoluble residue of the first test specimen is weighed and the percentage of the component (a) is calculated from the loss in mass. The insoluble residue of the second test specimen is weighed; it corresponds to component (c). The percentage of the third component (b) is calculated by difference.
3. Using two different test specimens, two components (a and b) are dissolved from the first test specimen and two components (b and c) from the second test specimen. The insoluble residues correspond to the two components (c) and (a) respectively. The percentage of the third component (b) is calculated by difference.
4. Using only one test specimen, after removal of one of the components, the insoluble residue formed by the two other fibres is weighed and the percentage of the soluble component is calculated from the loss in mass. One of the two fibres of the residue is dissolved, the insoluble component is weighed and the percentage of the second soluble component is calculated from the loss in mass.
Where a choice is possible, it is advisable to use one of the first three variants.
Where chemical analysis is used, the expert responsible for the analysis must take care to select methods employing solvents which dissolve only the correct fibre(s), leaving the other fibre(s) intact.
By way of example, a table is given in Section V which contains a certain number of ternary fibre mixtures, together with methods for analysing binary fibre mixtures which can, in principle, be used for analysing these ternary fibre mixtures.
In order to reduce the possibility of error to a minimum, it is recommended that, whenever possible, chemical analysis using at least two of the four abovementioned variants shall be made.
Before proceeding with any analysis, all the fibres present in the mixture must be identified. In some chemical methods, the insoluble component of a mixture may be partially dissolved in the reagent used to dissolve the soluble component(s). Wherever possible, reagents have been chosen that have little or no effect on the insoluble fibres. If a loss in mass is known to occur during the analysis, the result shall be corrected; correction factors are given for this purpose. These factors have been determined in several laboratories by treating, with the appropriate reagent as specified in the method of analysis, fibres cleaned by the pre-treatment. These correction factors apply only to undergraded fibres and different correction factors may be necessary if the fibres have been degraded before or during processing. If the fourth variant, in which a textile fibre is subjected to the successive action of two different solvents, must be used, correction factors must be applied for possible losses in mass undergone by the fibre in the two treatments. At least two determinations shall be made, both in the case of manual separation and in the case of chemical separation.
I. General information on methods for the quantitative chemical analysis of ternary fibre mixtures
Information common to the methods given for the quantitative chemical analysis of ternary fibre mixtures.
I.1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
The field of application of each method for analysing binary fibre mixtures specifies to which fibres the method is applicable (see Chapter 2 relating to methods for quantitative analysis of certain binary textile fibre mixtures).
I.2. PRINCIPLE
After the identification of the components of a mixture, the non-fibrous material is removed by suitable pre-treatment and then one or more of the four variants of the process of selective solution described in the introduction is applied. Except where this presents technical difficulties, it is preferable to dissolve the major fibre component so as to obtain the minor fibre component as final residue.
I.3. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
I.3.1. Apparatus
I.3.1.1.
Filter crucibles and weighing bottles large enough to contain such crucibles, or any other apparatus giving identical results.
I.3.1.2.
Vacuum flask.
I.3.1.3.
Desiccator containing self-indicating silica gel.
I.3.1.4.
Ventilated oven for drying specimens at 105 ± 3 °C.
I.3.1.5.
Analytical balance, accurate to 0,0002 g.
I.3.1.6.
Soxhlet extractor or other apparatus giving identical results.
I.3.2. Reagents
I.3.2.1.
Light petroleum, redistilled, boiling range 40 to 60 °C.
I.3.2.2.
Other reagents are specified in the appropriate sections of each method.
I.3.2.3.
Distilled or deionised water.
I.3.2.4.
Acetone.
I.3.2.5.
Orthophosphoric acid.
I.3.2.6.
Urea.
I.3.2.7.
Sodium bicarbonate.
All reagents used shall be chemically pure.
I.4. CONDITIONING AND TESTING ATMOSPHERE
Because dry masses are determined, it is unnecessary to condition the specimen or to conduct analyses in a conditioned atmosphere.
I.5. LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE
Take a laboratory test sample that is representative of the laboratory bulk sample and sufficient to provide all the specimens, each of at least 1 g, that are required.
I.6. PRE-TREATMENT OF LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE ( 26 )
Where a substance not to be taken into account in the percentage calculations (see Article 19) is present, it shall first be removed by a suitable method that does not affect any of the fibre constituents.
For this purpose, non-fibrous matter which can be extracted with light petroleum and water is removed by treating the laboratory test sample in a Soxhlet extractor with light petroleum for 1 hour at a minimum rate of six cycles per hour. Allow the light petroleum to evaporate from the laboratory test sample, which is then extracted by direct treatment consisting in soaking the laboratory test sample in water at room temperature for 1 hour and then soaking it in water at 65 ± 5 °C for a further hour, agitating the liquor from time to time. Use a liquor: laboratory test sample ratio of 100:1. Remove the excess water from the laboratory test sample by squeezing, suction or centrifuging and then allow the laboratory test sample to become air-dry.
In the case of elastolefin or fibre mixtures containing elastolefin and other fibres (wool, animal hair, silk, cotton, flax (or linen), true hemp, jute, abaca, alfa, coir, broom, ramie, sisal, cupro, modal, protein, viscose, acrylic, polyamide or nylon, polyester, elastomultiester) the procedure just described shall be slightly modified, in fact light petroleum ether shall be replaced by acetone.
Where non-fibrous matter cannot be extracted with light petroleum and water, it shall be removed by substituting for the water method described above a suitable method that does not substantially alter any of the fibre constituents. However, for some unbleached, natural vegetable fibres (e.g. jute, coir) it is to be noted that normal pre-treatment with light petroleum and water does not remove all the natural non-fibrous substances; nevertheless additional pre-treatment is not applied unless the sample contains finishes insoluble in both light petroleum and water.
Analysis reports shall include full details of the methods of pre-treatment used.
I.7. TEST PROCEDURE
I.7.1. General instructions
I.7.1.1. Drying
Conduct all drying operations for not less than 4 hours and not more than 16 hours at 105 ± 3 °C in a ventilated oven with the oven door closed throughout. If the drying period is less than 14 hours, the specimen must be checkweighed to determine whether its mass is constant. The mass may be considered as constant if, after a further drying period of 60 minutes, its variation is less than 0,05 %.
Avoid handling crucibles and weighing bottles, specimens or residues with bare hands during the drying, cooling and weighing operations.
Dry specimens in a weighing bottle with its cover beside it. After drying, stopper the weighing bottle before removing it from the oven, and transfer it quickly to the desiccator.
Dry the filter crucible in a weighing bottle with its cover beside it in the oven. After drying, close the weighing bottle and transfer it quickly to the desiccator.
Where apparatus other than a filter crucible is used, drying operations shall be conducted in the oven so as to determine the dry mass of the fibres without loss.
I.7.1.2. Cooling
Conduct all cooling operations in the desiccator, placed beside the balance, until the cooling of the weighing bottles is complete, and in any case for not less than 2 hours.
I.7.1.3. Weighing
After cooling, complete the weighing of the weighing bottle within 2 minutes of its removal from the desiccator; weigh to an accuracy of 0,0002 g.
I.7.2. Procedure
Take from the pre-treated laboratory test sample a test specimen of at least 1 g (in mass). Cut yarn or cloth into lengths of about 10 mm, dissected as much as possible. Dry the specimen in a weighing bottle, cool it in the desiccator and weigh it. Transfer the specimen to the glass vessel specified in the appropriate section of the Union method, reweigh the weighing bottle immediately and obtain the dry mass of the specimen by difference; complete the test as specified in the appropriate section of the applicable method. Examine the residue microscopically to check that the treatment has in fact completely removed the soluble fibre(s).
I.8. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Express the mass of each component as a percentage of the total mass of fibre in the mixture. Calculate the results on the basis of dean dry mass, adjusted by (a) the agreed allowances and (b) the correction factors necessary to take account of loss of non-fibrous matter during pre-treatment and analysis.
I.8.1.
Calculation of percentages of mass of clean dry fibres disregarding loss of fibre mass during pre-treatment.
I.8.1.1. – VARIANT 1 –
Formulae to be applied where a component of the mixture is removed from one specimen and another component from a second specimen:
image
image
P 3% = 100 – (P 1% + P 2%)
P1%
is the percentage of the first clean dry component (component in the first specimen dissolved in the first reagent),
P2%
is the percentage of the second clean dry component (component in the second specimen dissolved in the second reagent),
P3%
is the percentage of the third clean dry component (component undissolved in both specimens),
m1
is the dry mass of the first specimen after pre-treatment,
m2
is the dry mass of the second specimen after pre-treatment,
r1
is the dry mass of the residue after removal of the first component from the first specimen in the first reagent,
r2
is the dry mass of the residue after removal of the second component from the second specimen in the second reagent,
d1
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the first reagent, of the second component undissolved in the first specimen ( 27 );
d2
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the first reagent, of the third component undissolved in the first specimen,
d3
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the second reagent, of the first component undissolved in the second specimen,
d4
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the second reagent, of the third component undissolved in the second specimen.
I.8.1.2. – VARIANT 2 –
Formulae to be applied where a component (a) is removed from the first test specimen, leaving as residue the other two components (b + c), and two components (a + b) are removed from the second test specimen, leaving as residue the third component (c):
P 1% = 100 – (P 2% + P 3%)
image
image
P1%
is the percentage of the first clean dry component (component in the first specimen dissolved in the first reagent),
P2%
is the percentage of the second clean dry component (component soluble, at the same time as the first component of the second specimen, in the second reagent),
P3%
is the percentage of the third clean dry component (component undissolved in both specimens),
m1
is the dry mass of the first specimen after pre-treatment,
m2
is the dry mass of the second specimen after pre-treatment,
r1
is the dry mass of the residue after removal of the first component from the first specimen in the first reagent,
r2
is the dry mass of the residue after removal of the first and second components from the second specimen in the second reagent,
d1
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the first reagent, of the second component undissolved in the first specimen,
d2
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the first reagent, of the third component undissolved in the first specimen,
d4
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the second reagent, of the third component undissolved in the second specimen.
I.8.1.3. – VARIANT 3 –
Formulae to be applied where two components (a + b) are removed from a specimen, leaving as residue the third component (c), then two components (b + c) are removed from another specimen, leaving as residue the first component (a):
image
P 2% = 100 – (P 1% + P 3%)
image
P1%
is the percentage of the first clean dry component (component dissolved by the reagent),
P2%
is the percentage of the second clean dry component (component dissolved by the reagent),
P3%
is the percentage of the third clean dry component (component dissolved in the second specimen by the reagent),
m1
is the dry mass of the first specimen after pre-treatment,
m2
is the dry mass of the second specimen after pre-treatment,
r1
is the dry mass of the residue after the removal of the first and second components from the first specimen with the first reagent,
r2
is the dry mass of the residue after the removal of the second and third components from the second specimen with the second reagent,
d2
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the first reagent of the third component undissolved in the first specimen,
d3
is the correction factor for loss in mass in the second reagent of the first component undissolved in the second specimen.
I.8.1.4. – VARIANT 4 –
Formulae to be applied where two components are successively removed from the mixture using the same specimen:
P 1% = 100 – (P 2% + P 3%)
image
image
P1%
is the percentage of the first clean dry component (first soluble component),
P2%
is the percentage of the second clean dry component (second soluble component),
P3%
is the percentage of the third clean dry component (insoluble component),
m
is the dry mass of the specimen after pre-treatment,
r1
is the dry mass of the residue after elimination of the first component by the first reagent,
r2
is the dry mass of the residue after elimination of the first and second component by the first and second reagents,
d1
is the correction factor for loss in mass of the second component in the first reagent,
d2
is the correction factor for loss in mass of the third component in the first reagent,
d3
is the correction factor for loss in mass of the third component in the first and second reagents ( 28 ).
I.8.2.
Calculation of the percentage of each component with adjustment by agreed allowances and, where appropriate, correction factors for losses in mass during pre-treatment operations:
Given:
image
image
image
then:
image
image
image
P1A%
is the percentage of the first clean dry component, including moisture content and loss in mass during pre-treatment,
P2A%
is the percentage of the second clean dry component, including moisture content and loss in mass during pre-treatment,
P3A%
is the percentage of the third clean dry component, including moisture content and loss in mass during pre-treatment,
P1
is the percentage of the first clean dry component obtained by one of the formulae given in I.8.1,
P2
is the percentage of the second clean dry component obtained by one of the formulae given in I.8.1,
P3
is the percentage of the third clean dry component obtained by one of the formulae given in I.8.1,
a1
is the agreed allowance of the first component,
a2
is the agreed allowance of the second component,
a3
is the agreed allowance of the third component,
b1
is the percentage of loss in mass of the first component during pre-treatment,
b2
is the percentage of loss in mass of the second component during pre-treatment,
b3
is the percentage of loss in mass of the third component during pre-treatment.
Where a special pre-treatment is used the values b1, b2 and b3 shall be determined, if possible, by submitting each of the pure fibre constituents to the pre-treatment applied in the analysis. Pure fibres are those free from all non-fibrous material except those which they normally contain (either naturally or because of the manufacturing process), in the state (unbleached, bleached) in which they are found in the material to be analysed.
Where no clean separate constituent fibres used in the manufacture of the material to be analysed are available, average values of b1, b2 and b3 as obtained from tests performed on clean fibres similar to those in the mixture under examination, must be used.
If normal pre-treatment by extraction with light petroleum and water is applied, correction factors b1, b2 and b3 may generally be ignored, except in the case of unbleached cotton, unbleached flax (or linen) and unbleached hemp where the loss due to pre-treatment is usually accepted as 4 % and in the case of polypropylene as 1 %.
In the case of other fibres, losses due to pre-treatment are usually disregarded in calculations.
I.8.3.
Note:
Calculation examples are given in Section IV.
II. Method of quantitative analysis by manual separation of ternary fibre mixtures
II.1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
This method is applicable to textile fibres of all types provided they do not form an intimate mixture and that it is possible to separate them by hand.
II.2. PRINCIPLE
After identification of the textile components, the non-fibrous matter is removed by a suitable pre-treatment and then the fibres are separated by hand, dried and weighed in order to calculate the proportion of each fibre in the mixture.
II.3. APPARATUS
II.3.1.
Weighing bottles or other apparatus giving identical results.
II.3.2.
Desiccator containing self-indicating silica gel.
II.3.3.
Ventilated oven for drying specimens at 105 ± 3 °C.
II.3.4.
Analytical balance accurate to 0,0002 g.
II.3.5.
Soxhlet extractor, or other apparatus giving identical results.
II.3.6.
Needle.
II.3.7.
Twist tester or similar apparatus.
II.4. REAGENTS
II.4.1.
Light petroleum, redistilled, boiling range 40 to 60 °C.
II.4.2.
Distilled or deionised water.
II.5. CONDITIONING AND TESTING ATMOSPHERE
See I.4.
II.6. LABORATORY TEST SAMPLE
See I.5.
II.7. PRE-TREATMENT OF LABORATORY TEST SAMPLES
See I.6.
II.8. PROCEDURE
II.8.1. Analysis of yarn
Take from the pre-treated laboratory test sample a specimen of mass not less than 1 g. For a very fine yarn, the analysis may be made on a minimum length of 30 m, whatever its mass.
Cut the yarn into pieces of a suitable length and separate the fibre types by means of a needle and, if necessary, a twist tester. The fibre types so obtained are placed in pre-weighed weighing bottles and dried at 105 ± 3 °C to constant mass, as described in I.7.1 and I.7.2.
II.8.2. Analysis of cloth
Take from the pre-treated laboratory test sample a specimen of mass not less than 1 g, not including a selvedge with edges carefully trimmed to avoid fraying and running parallel with weft or warp yarns, or in the case of knitted fabrics in the line of the wales and courses. Separate the different types of fibres and collect them in pre-weighed weighing bottles and proceed as described in II.8.1.
II.9. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
Express the mass of each component fibre as a percentage of the total mass of the fibres in the mixture. Calculate the results on the basis of clean dry mass, adjusted by (a) the agreed allowances and (b) the correction factors necessary to take account of losses in mass during pre-treatment operations.
II.9.1.
Calculation of percentage masses of clean dry fibre, disregarding loss in fibre mass during pre-treatment:
image
image
P 3% = 100 – (P 1% + P 2%)
P1%
is the percentage of the first clean dry component,
P2%
is the percentage of the second clean dry component,
P3%
is the percentage of the third clean dry component,
m1
is the clean dry mass of the first component,
m2
is the clean dry mass of the second component,
m3
is the clean dry mass of the third component.
II.9.2.
For calculation of the percentage of each component with adjustment by agreed allowances and, where appropriate, by correction factors for losses in mass during pre-treatment: see I.8.2.
III. Method of quantitative analysis of ternary fibre mixtures by a combination of manual separation and chemical separation
Wherever possible, manual separation shall be used, taking account of the proportions of components separated before proceeding to any chemical treatment of each of the separate components.
III.1. PRECISION OF THE METHODS
The precision indicated in each method of analysis of binary fibre mixtures relates to the reproducibility (see Chapter 2 relating to methods for quantitative analysis of certain binary textile fibre mixtures).
Reproducibility refers to the reliability, i.e. the closeness of agreement between experimental values obtained by operators in different laboratories or at different times using the same method and obtaining individual results on specimens of an identical homogeneous mixture.
Reproducibility is expressed by confidence limits of the results for a confidence level of 95 %.
By this is meant that the difference between two results in a series of analyses made in different laboratories would, given a normal and correct application of the method to an identical and homogeneous mixture, exceed the confidence limit only in five cases out of 100.
To determine the precision of the analysis of a ternary fibre mixture the values indicated in the methods for the analysis of binary fibre mixtures which have been used to analyse the ternary fibre mixture are applied in the usual way.
Given that in the four variants of the quantitative chemical analysis of ternary fibre mixtures, provision is made for two dissolutions (using two separate specimens for the first three variants and a single specimen for the fourth variant) and, assuming that E1 and E2 denote the precision of the two methods for analysing binary fibre mixtures, the precision of the results for each component is shown in the following table:
Component fibre
Variants
1
2 and 3
4
a
E1
E1
E1
b
E2
E1 + E2
E1 + E2
c
E1 + E2
E2
E1 + E2
If the fourth variant is used, the degree of precision may be found to be lower than that calculated by the method indicated above, owing to possible action of the first reagent on the residue consisting of components b and c, which would be difficult to evaluate.
III.2. TEST REPORT
III.2.1.
Indicate the variant(s) used to carry out the analysis, the methods, reagents and correction factors.
III.2.2.
Give details of any special pre-treatments (see I.6).
III.2.3.
Give the individual results and the arithmetic mean, each to the first decimal place.
III.2.4.
Wherever possible, state the precision of the method for each component, calculated according to the table in Section III.1.
IV. Examples of the calculation of percentages of the components of certain ternary fibre mixtures using some of the variants described in point I.8.1.
Consider the case of a fibre mixture which gave the following components when qualitatively analysed for raw material composition: 1. carded wool; 2. nylon (polyamide); 3. unbleached cotton.
Using this variant, that is using two different specimens and removing one component (a = wool) by dissolution from the first specimen and a second component (b = polyamide) from the second specimen, the following results can be obtained:
1. Dry mass of the first specimen after pre-treatment is (m1) = 1,6000 g
2. Dry mass of the residue after treatment with alkaline sodium hypochlorite (polyamide + cotton) (r1) = 1,4166 g
3. Dry mass of the second specimen after pre-treatment (m2) = 1,8000 g
4. Dry mass of the residue after treatment with formic acid (wool + cotton) (r2) = 0,9000 g
Treatment with alkaline sodium hypochlorite does not entail any loss in mass of polyamide, while unbleached cotton loses 3 %, therefore d1 = 1,00 and d2 = 1,03.
Treatment with formic acid does not entail any loss in mass for wool or unbleached cotton, therefore d3 and d4 = 1,00.
If the values obtained by chemical analysis and the correction factors are substituted in the formula under I.8.1.1, the following result is obtained:
P1% (wool) = [1,03/1,00 – 1,03 × 1,4166/1,6000 + (0,9000/1,8000) × (1 – 1,03/1,00)] ×100 = 10,30
P2% (polyamide) = [1,00/1,00 – 1,00 × 0,9000/1,8000 + (1,4166/1,6000) × (1 – 1,00/1,00)] × 100 = 50,00
P3% (cotton) = 100 – (10,30 + 50,00) = 39,70
The percentages of the various clean dry fibres in the mixture are as follows:
wool
10,30 %
polyamide
50,00 %
cotton
39,70 %
These percentages must be corrected according to the formulae under I.8.2, in order to take account of the agreed allowances and the correction factors for any losses in mass after pre-treatment.
As indicated in Annex IX, the agreed allowances are as follows: carded wool 17,00 %, polyamide 6,25 %, cotton 8,50 %, also unbleached cotton shows a loss in mass of 4 %, after pre-treatment with light petroleum and water.
Therefore:
P1A% (wool) = 10,30 × [1 + (17,00 + 0,0)/100] / [10,30 × (1 + (17,00 + 0,0)/100) + 50,00 × (1 + (6,25 + 0,0)/100) + 39,70 × (1 + (8,50 + 4,0)/100)] × 100 = 10,97
P2A% (polyamide) = 50,0 × [(1 + (6,25 + 0,0)/100)/109,8385] × 100 = 48,37
P3A% (cotton) = 100 – (10,97 + 48,37) = 40,66
The raw material composition of the yarn is therefore as follows:
polyamide
48,4 %
cotton
40,6 %
wool
11,0 %
100,0 %
Consider the case of a fibre mixture which when qualitatively analysed gave the following components: carded wool, viscose, unbleached cotton.
Suppose that using variant 4, that is successively removing two components from the mixture of one single specimen, the following results are obtained:
1. Dry mass of the specimen after pre-treatment (m) = 1,6000 g
2. Dry mass of the residue after treatment with alkaline sodium hypochlorite (viscose + cotton) (r1) = 1,4166 g
3. Dry mass of the residue after the second treatment of the residue r1 with zinc chloride/formic acid (cotton) (r2) = 0,6630 g
Treatment with alkaline sodium hypochlorite does not entail any loss in mass of viscose, while unbleached cotton loses 3 %, therefore d1 =1,00 and d2 = 1,03.
As a result of treatment with formic acid-zinc chloride, the mass of cotton increases by 4 %, so that d3 = 1,03 × 0,96 = 0,9888, rounded to 0,99, (d3 being the correction factor for the respective loss or increase in mass of the third component in the first and second reagents).
If the values obtained by chemical analysis and the correction factors are substituted in the formulae given in I.8.1.4, the following result is obtained:
P2% (viscose) = 1,00 × (1,4166/1,6000) × 100 – (1,00/1,03) × 41,02 = 48,71 %
P3% (cotton) = 0,99 × (0,6630/1,6000) × 100 = 41,02 %
P1% (wool) = 100 – (48,71 + 41,02) = 10,27 %
As has already been indicated for Variant 1, these percentages must be corrected by the formulae indicated in point I.8.2.
P1A% (wool) = 10,27 × [1 + (17,0 + 0,0)/100)]/[10,27 × (1 + (17,00 + 0,0)/100) +48,71 × (1 + (13 + 0,0)/100) + 41,02 × (1 + (8,5 + 4,0)/100)] × 100 = 10,61 %
P2A% (viscose) = 48,71 × [1 + (13 + 0,0)/100] / 113,2057 × 100 = 48,62 %
P3A% (cotton) = 100 – (10,61 + 48,62) = 40,77 %
The raw material composition of the mixture is therefore as follows:
viscose
48,6 %
cotton
40,8 %
wool
10,6 %
—
100,0 %
V. Table of typical ternary fibre mixtures which may be analysed using Union methods of analysis of binary fibre mixtures (for illustration purposes)
Mixture No
Component fibres
Variant
Number of method used and reagent for binary fibre mixtures
Component 1
Component 2
Component 3
1.
wool or hair
viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
cotton
1 and/or 4
2. (hypochlorite) and 3. (zinc chloride/formic acid)
2.
wool or hair
polyamide or nylon
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
1 and/or 4
2. (hypochlorite) and 4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m)
3.
wool, hair or silk
certain other fibres
viscose, cupro modal or cotton
1 and/or 4
2. (hypochlorite) and 9. (carbon disulphide/acetone 55,5/44,5 % v/v)
4.
wool or hair
polyamide or nylon
polyester, polypropylene, acrylic or glass fibre
1 and/or 4
2. (hypochlorite) and 4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m)
5.
wool, hair or silk
certain other fibres
polyester, acrylic, polyamide or nylon or glass fibre
1 and/or 4
2. (hypochlorite) and 9. (carbon disulphide/acetone 55,5/44,5 % v/v)
6.
silk
wool or hair
polyester
2
11. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m) and 2. (hypochlorite)
7.
polyamide or nylon
acrylic or certain other fibres
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
1 and/or 4
4. (formic acid 80 % m/m) and 8. (dimethylformamide)
8.
certain chlorofibres
polyamide or nylon
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
1 and/or 4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m) or 9. (carbon disulphide/acetone, 55,5/44,5 % v/v) and 4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m)
9.
acrylic
polyamide or nylon
polyester
1 and/or 4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m)
10.
acetate
polyamide or nylon or certain other fibres
viscose, cotton, cupro or modal
4
1. (acetone) and 4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m)
11.
certain chlorofibres
acrylic or certain other fibres
polyamide or nylon
2 and/or 4
9. (carbon disulphide/acetone 55,5/44,5 % v/v) and 8. (dimethylformamide)
12.
certain chlorofibres
polyamide or nylon
acrylic
1 and/or 4
9. (carbon disulphide/acetone 55,5/44,5 % v/v) and 4. (formic acid, 80 %m/m)
13.
polyamide or nylon
viscose, cupro, modal or cotton
polyester
4
4. (formic acid, 80 % m/m) and 7. (sulphuric acid, 75 % m/m)
14.
acetate
viscose, cupro, modal or cotton
polyester
4
1. (acetone) and 7 (sulphuric acid, 75 % m/m)
15.
acrylic
viscose, cupro, modal or cotton
polyester
4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 7. (sulphuric acid, 75 % m/m)
16.
acetate
wool, hair or silk
cotton, viscose, cupro, modal, polyamide or nylon, polyester, acrylic
4
1. (acetone) and 2. (hypochlorite)
17.
triacetate
wool, hair or silk
cotton, viscose, cupro, modal, polyamide or nylon, polyester, acrylic
4
6. (dichloromethane) and 2. (hypochlorite)
18.
acrylic
wool, hair or silk
polyester
1 and/or 4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 2. (hypochlorite)
19.
acrylic
silk
wool or hair
4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 11. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
20.
acrylic
wool or hair silk
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
1 and/or 4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 2. (hypochlorite)
21.
wool, hair or silk
cotton, viscose, modal, cupro
polyester
4
2. (hypochlorite) and 7. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
22.
viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
cotton
polyester
2 and/or 4
3. (zinc chloride/formic acid) and 7. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
23.
acrylic
viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
cotton
4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 3 (zinc chloride/formic acid)
24.
certain chlorofibres
viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
cotton
1 and/or 4
9. (carbon disulphide/acetone, 55,5/44,5 % v/v) and 3. (zinc chloride/formic acid) or 8. (dimethylformamide) and 3. (zinc chloride/formic acid)
25.
acetate
viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
cotton
4
1. (acetone) and 3. (zinc chloride/formic acid)
26.
triacetate
viscose, cupro or certain types of modal
cotton
4
6. (dichloromethane) and 3. (zinc chloride/formic acid)
27.
acetate
silk
wool or hair
4
1. (acetone) and 11. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
28.
triacetate
silk
wool or hair
4
6. (dichloromethane) and 11. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
29.
acetate
acrylic
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
4
1. (acetone) and 8. (dimethylformamide)
30.
triacetate
acrylic
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
4
6. (dichloromethane) and 8. (dimethylformamide)
31.
triacetate
polyamide or nylon
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
4
6. (dichloromethane) and 4. (formic acid 80 % m/m)
32.
triacetate
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
polyester
4
6. (dichloromethane) and 7. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
33.
acetate
polyamide or nylon
polyester or acrylic
4
1. (acetone) and 4. (formic acid 80 % m/m)
34.
acetate
acrylic
polyester
4
1. (acetone) and 8. (dimethylformamide)
35.
certain chlorofibres
cotton, viscose, cupro or modal
polyester
4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 7. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m) or 9 (carbon disulphide/acetone, 55,5/44,5 % v/v) and 7. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m)
36.
cotton
polyester
elastolefin
2 and/or 4
7. (sulphuric acid 75 % m/m) and 14. (concentrated sulphuric acid)
37.
certain modacrylics
polyester
melamine
2 and/or 4
8. (dimethylformamide) and 14. (concentrated sulphuric acid)
ANNEX IX
Agreed allowances used to calculate the mass of fibres contained in a textile product
(referred to in Article 19(3))
Fibre No
Fibres
Percentages
1-2
Wool and animal hair:
combed fibres
18,25
carded fibres
17,00 (1)
3
Animal hair:
combed fibres
18,25
carded fibres
17,00 (1)
Horsehair:
combed fibres
16,00
carded fibres
15,00
4
Silk
11,00
5
Cotton:
normal fibres
8,50
mercerised fibres
10,50
6
Kapok
10,90
7
Flax (or linen)
12,00
8
True hemp
12,00
9
Jute
17,00
10
Abaca
14,00
11
Alfa
14,00
12
Coir
13,00
13
Broom
14,00
14
Ramie (bleached fibre)
8,50
15
Sisal
14,00
16
Sunn
12,00
17
Henequen
14,00
18
Maguey
14,00
19
Acetate
9,00
20
Alginate
20,00
21
Cupro
13,00
22
Modal
13,00
23
Protein
17,00
24
Triacetate
7,00
25
Viscose
13,00
26
Acrylic
2,00
27
Chlorofibre
2,00
28
Fluorofibre
0,00
29
Modacrylic
2,00
30
Polyamide or nylon:
discontinuous fibre
6,25
filament
5,75
31
Aramid
8,00
32
Polyimide
3,50
33
Lyocell
13,00
34
Polylactide
1,50
35
Polyester
1,50
36
Polyethylene
1,50
37
Polypropylene
2,00
38
Polycarbamide
2,00
39
Polyurethane:
discontinuous fibre
3,50
filament
3,00
40
Vinylal
5,00
41
Trivinyl
3,00
42
Elastodiene
1,00
43
Elastane
1,50
44
Glass fibre:
with an average diameter of over 5 μm
2,00
with an average diameter of 5 μm or less
3,00
45
Elastomultiester
1,50
46
Elastolefin
1,50
47
Melamine
7,00
48
Metal fibre
2,00
Metallised fibre
2,00
Asbestos
2,00
Paper yarn
13,75
▼M2
49
Polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent
1,00
▼B
(1) The agreed allowances of 17,00 % shall also be applied where it is impossible to ascertain whether the textile product containing wool and/or animal hair is combed or carded.
DIRECTIVE 2010/30/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 19 May 2010
Directive on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy
and other resources by energy-related products
(recast)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),
After having consulted the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),
Whereas:
(1)
Council Directive 92/75/EEC of 22 September 1992 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances (3) has been substantially amended (4). Since further amendments have to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity.
(2)
The scope of Directive 92/75/EEC is restricted to household appliances. The Commission Communication of 16 July 2008 on the Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan has shown that the extension of the scope of Directive 92/75/EEC to energy-related products which have a significant direct or indirect impact on energy consumption during use could reinforce potential synergies between existing legislative measures, and in particular Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy related products (5). This Directive should not prejudice the application of Directive 2009/125/EC. Together with that Directive and other Union instruments, this Directive forms part of a broader legal framework and, in the context of a holistic approach, brings about additional energy savings and environmental gains.
(3)
The Presidency conclusions of the European Council of 8 and 9 March 2007 emphasised the need to increase energy efficiency in the Union so as to achieve the objective of saving 20 % of the Union’s energy consumption by 2020, set targets for the EU-wide development of renewable energies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and called for a thorough and rapid implementation of the key areas identified in the Commission Communication of 19 October 2006 entitled ‘Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential’. The action plan highlighted the enormous energy savings opportunities in the products sector.
(4)
Improving the efficiency of energy-related products through informed consumer choice benefits the EU economy overall.
(5)
The provision of accurate, relevant and comparable information on the specific energy consumption of energy-related products should influence the end-user’s choice in favour of those products which consume or indirectly result in consuming less energy and other essential resources during use, thus prompting manufacturers to take steps to reduce the consumption of energy and other essential resources of the products which they manufacture. It should also, indirectly, encourage the efficient use of these products in order to contribute to the EU’s 20 % energy efficiency target. In the absence of this information, the operation of market forces alone will fail to promote the rational use of energy and other essential resources for these products.
(6)
It should be recalled that Union and national legislation exists which gives certain rights to consumers with respect to purchased products, including compensation or exchange of the product.
(7)
The Commission should provide a priority list of energy-related products that could be covered by a delegated act under this Directive. Such a list could be included in the Working Plan referred to in Directive 2009/125/EC.
(8)
Information plays a key role in the operation of market forces and it is therefore necessary to introduce a uniform label for all products of the same type, to provide potential purchasers with supplementary standardised information on those products’ costs in terms of energy and the consumption of other essential resources and to take measures to ensure that potential end-users who do not see the product displayed, and thus have no opportunity to see the label, are also supplied with this information. In order to be efficient and successful, the label should be easily recognisable to end-users, simple and concise. To this end the existing layout of the label should be retained as the basis to inform end-users about the energy efficiency of products. Energy consumption of and other information concerning the products should be measured in accordance with harmonised standards and methods.
(9)
As pointed out in the Commission’s Impact Assessment accompanying its proposal for this Directive, the energy labelling scheme has been followed as a model in different countries around the world.
(10)
Member States should regularly monitor compliance with this Directive, and include the relevant information in the report that they are obliged to submit every four years to the Commission under this Directive, with special regard to the responsibilities of suppliers and dealers.
(11)
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products (6) contains general provisions on market surveillance relating to the marketing of products. In order to achieve its aims, this Directive provides for more detailed provisions in this respect. Those provisions are consistent with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.
(12)
A completely voluntary scheme would lead to only some products being labelled, or supplied with standard product information, with the risk that this might result in confusion or even misinformation for some end-users. The present scheme should therefore ensure that for all the products concerned, the consumption of energy and other essential resources is indicated by labelling and standard product fiches.
(13)
Energy-related products have a direct or indirect impact on the consumption of a wide variety of forms of energy during use, electricity and gas being the most important. This Directive should therefore cover energy-related products having a direct or indirect impact on the consumption of any form of energy during use.
(14)
Energy-related products which have a significant direct or indirect impact on consumption of energy or, where relevant, of essential resources during use and which afford adequate scope for increased efficiency should be covered by a delegated act, when provision of information through labelling may stimulate end-users to purchase more efficient products.
(15)
In order to meet the Union climate change and energy security objectives, and given that the total energy consumed by products is expected to continue to rise in the longer term, the delegated acts under this Directive could, where relevant, also highlight on the label the high total energy consumption of the product.
(16)
A number of Member States have public procurement policies in place which require contracting authorities to procure energy efficient products. A number of Member States also have put in place incentives for energy efficient products. The criteria for products to be eligible for public procurement or incentives can substantially differ from one Member State to another. To refer to performance classes as levels for particular products, as set out in delegated acts under this Directive, may reduce fragmentation of public procurement and incentives and facilitate the uptake of efficient products.
(17)
Incentives which Member States may provide for the promotion of efficient products might constitute State aid. This Directive does not prejudice the outcome of any future State aid procedure that may be undertaken in accordance with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in respect of such incentives and should not cover taxation and fiscal matters. Member States are free to decide on the nature of such incentives.
(18)
The promotion of energy efficient products through labelling, public procurement and incentives should not be to the detriment of the overall environmental performance and the functioning of such products.
(19)
The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU in respect of labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other essential resources by energy-related products during use. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level.
(20)
The Commission should regularly submit to the European Parliament and the Council a synthesis, covering the EU and each Member State separately, of the reports on enforcement activities and the level of compliance submitted by Member States under this Directive.
(21)
The Commission should be responsible for adapting the label classifications with the aim of ensuring predictability for the industry and comprehension for consumers.
(22)
To a varying extent according to the product concerned, technological development and the potential for additional significant energy savings could make further product differentiation necessary and justify a review of the classification. Such review should include in particular the possibility of rescaling. This review should be carried out as expeditiously as possible in the case of products which, due to their very innovative characteristics, can make a significant contribution to energy efficiency.
(23)
When the Commission reviews progress and reports on the implementation of the Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan in 2012, it will in particular analyse whether further action to improve the energy and environmental performance of products is needed, including, inter alia the possibility to provide consumers with information on the carbon footprint of products or the products’ environmental impact during their life cycle.
(24)
The obligation to transpose this Directive into national law should be confined to those provisions which represent a substantive change as compared with Directive 92/75/EEC. The obligation to transpose the provisions which are unchanged arises under the Directive 92/75/EEC.
(25)
When Member States implement the provisions of this Directive, they should endeavour to refrain from adopting measures that could impose unnecessarily bureaucratic and unwieldy obligations on the market participants concerned, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises.
(26)
This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time-limits for transposition into national law and application of Directive 92/75/EEC.
(27)
In accordance with point 34 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on better law-making (7), Member States are encouraged to draw up, for themselves and in the interest of the Union, their own tables illustrating, as far as possible, the correlation between this Directive and the transposition measures, and to make them public,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Scope
1. This Directive establishes a framework for the harmonisation of national measures on end-user information, particularly by means of labelling and standard product information, on the consumption of energy and where relevant of other essential resources during use, and supplementary information concerning energy-related products, thereby allowing end-users to choose more efficient products.
2. This Directive shall apply to energy-related products which have a significant direct or indirect impact on the consumption of energy and, where relevant, on other essential resources during use.
3. This Directive shall not apply to:
(a)
second-hand products;
(b)
any means of transport for persons or goods;
(c)
the rating plate or its equivalent affixed for safety purposes to products.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purpose of this Directive:
(a)
‘energy-related product’ or ‘product’ means any good having an impact on energy consumption during use, which is placed on the market and/or put into service in the Union, including parts intended to be incorporated into energy-related products covered by this Directive which are placed on the market and/or put into service as individual parts for end-users and of which the environmental performance can be assessed independently;
(b)
‘fiche’ means a standard table of information relating to a product;
(c)
‘other essential resources’ means water, chemicals or any other substance consumed by a product in normal use;
(d)
‘supplementary information’ means other information concerning the performance and features of a product which relate to, or are helpful in evaluating, its use of energy or other essential resources based on measurable data;
(e)
‘direct impact’ means the impact of products that actually consume energy during use;
(f)
‘indirect impact’ means the impact of products that do not consume energy, but contribute to energy conservation during use;
(g)
‘dealer’ means a retailer or other person who sells, hires, offers for hire-purchase or displays products to end-users;
(h)
‘supplier’ means the manufacturer or its authorised representative in the Union or the importer who places or puts into service the product on the Union market. In their absence, any natural or legal person who places on the market or puts into service products covered by this Directive shall be considered a supplier;
(i)
‘placing on the market’ means making a product available for the first time on the Union market with a view to its distribution or use within the Union, whether for reward or free of charge and irrespective of the selling technique;
(j)
‘putting into service’ means the first use of a product for its intended purpose in the Union;
(k)
‘unauthorised use of the label’ means the use of the label, other than by Member State authorities or EU institutions, in a manner not provided for in this Directive or a delegated act.
Article 3
Responsibilities of Member States
1. Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
all suppliers and dealers established in their territory fulfil the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6;
(b)
with respect to products covered by this Directive, the display of other labels, marks, symbols or inscriptions which do not comply with the requirements of this Directive and of the relevant delegated acts is prohibited, if such display is likely to mislead or confuse end-users with respect to the consumption of energy or, where relevant, other essential resources during use;
(c)
the introduction of the system of labels and fiches concerning energy consumption or conservation is accompanied by educational and promotional information campaigns aimed at promoting energy efficiency and more responsible use of energy by end-users;
(d)
appropriate measures are taken in order to encourage the relevant national or regional authorities responsible for implementing this Directive to cooperate and provide each other and the Commission with information in order to assist the application of this Directive. The administrative cooperation and exchange of information shall take the utmost advantage of electronic means of communication, shall be cost-effective and may be supported by relevant EU programmes. Such cooperation shall guarantee the security and confidentiality of processing and the protection of sensitive information provided during that procedure, where necessary. The Commission shall take appropriate measures in order to encourage and contribute to the cooperation between Member States referred to in this point.
2. Where a Member State ascertains that a product does not comply with all the relevant requirements set out in this Directive and its delegated acts for the label and the fiche, the supplier shall be obliged to make the product compliant with those requirements under effective and proportionate conditions imposed by the Member State.
Where there is sufficient evidence that a product may be non-compliant, the Member State concerned shall take the necessary preventive measures and measures aimed at ensuring compliance within a precise time-frame, taking into account the damage caused.
Where non-compliance continues, the Member State concerned shall take a decision restricting or prohibiting the placing on the market and/or putting into service of the product in question or ensuring that it is withdrawn from the market. In cases of withdrawal of the product from the market or prohibition on placing the product on the market, the Commission and the other Member States shall be immediately informed.
3. Every four years, the Member States shall submit a report to the Commission including details about their enforcement activities and the level of compliance in their territory.
The Commission may specify the details of the common content of these reports, through the setting of guidelines.
4. The Commission shall regularly provide a synthesis of those reports to the European Parliament and the Council for information.
Article 4
Information requirements
Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
information relating to the consumption of electric energy, other forms of energy and where relevant other essential resources during use, and supplementary information is, in accordance with delegated acts under this Directive, brought to the attention of end-users by means of a fiche and a label related to products offered for sale, hire, hire-purchase or displayed to end-users directly or indirectly by any means of distance selling, including the Internet;
(b)
the information referred to in point (a) is provided in respect of built-in or installed products only where required by the applicable delegated act;
(c)
any advertisement for a specific model of energy-related products covered by a delegated act under this Directive includes, where energy-related or price information is disclosed, a reference to the energy efficiency class of the product;
(d)
any technical promotional material concerning energy-related products which describes the specific technical parameters of a product, namely, technical manuals and manufacturers’ brochures, whether printed or online, is provided to end-users with the necessary information regarding energy consumption or shall include a reference to the energy efficiency class of the product.
Article 5
Responsibilities of suppliers
Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
suppliers placing on the market or putting into service products covered by a delegated act supply a label and a fiche in accordance with this Directive and the delegated act;
(b)
suppliers produce technical documentation which is sufficient to enable the accuracy of the information contained in the label and the fiche to be assessed. That technical documentation shall include:
(i)
a general description of the product;
(ii)
where relevant, the results of design calculations carried out;
(iii)
test reports, where available, including those carried out by relevant notified organisations as defined under other Union legislation;
(iv)
where values are used for similar models, the references allowing identification of those models.
To this end suppliers may use documentation already established in accordance with requirements laid down in relevant Union legislation;
(c)
suppliers make the technical documentation available for inspection purposes for a period ending five years after the last product concerned was manufactured.
Suppliers make available an electronic version of the technical documentation on request to the market surveillance authorities of the Member States and to the Commission within 10 working days on receipt of a request by the competent authority of a Member State or the Commission;
(d)
in respect of labelling and product information, suppliers provide the necessary labels free of charge to dealers.
Without prejudice to the suppliers’ choice of system for delivery of labels, suppliers promptly deliver labels on request from dealers;
(e)
in addition to the labels, suppliers provide a product fiche;
(f)
suppliers include a product fiche in all product brochures. Where product brochures are not provided by the supplier, the supplier provides fiches with other literature provided with the product;
(g)
suppliers are responsible for the accuracy of the labels and fiches that they supply;
(h)
suppliers are considered to have given consent to the publication of the information provided on the label or in the fiche.
Article 6
Responsibilities of dealers
Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
dealers display labels properly, in a visible and legible manner, and make the fiche available in the product brochure or other literature that accompanies products when sold to end-users;
(b)
whenever a product covered by a delegated act is displayed, dealers attach an appropriate label, in the clearly visible position specified in the applicable delegated act, and in the relevant language version.
Article 7
Distance selling and other forms of selling
Where products are offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase by mail order, by catalogue, through the Internet, telemarketing or by any other means which imply that the potential end-user cannot be expected to see the product displayed, delegated acts shall make provision to ensure that potential end-users are provided with the information specified on the label for the product and in the fiche before buying the product. Delegated acts shall, where appropriate, specify the way in which the label or the fiche or the information specified on the label or in the fiche shall be displayed or provided to the potential end-user.
Article 8
Free movement
1. Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market or putting into service, within their territories, of products which are covered by and comply with this Directive and the applicable delegated act.
2. Unless they have evidence to the contrary, Member States shall consider labels and fiches as complying with the provisions of this Directive and the delegated acts. Member States shall require suppliers to provide evidence within the meaning of Article 5 concerning the accuracy of the information supplied on their labels or fiches when they have reason to suspect that such information is incorrect.
Article 9
Public procurement and incentives
1. Where a product is covered by a delegated act, contracting authorities which conclude public works, supply or service contracts as referred to in Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts (8), which are not excluded by virtue of Articles 12 to 18 thereof, shall endeavour to procure only such products which comply with the criteria of having the highest performance levels and belonging to the highest energy efficiency class. Member States may also require the contracting authorities to procure only products fulfilling those criteria. Member States may make the application of those criteria subject to cost-effectiveness, economical feasibility and technical suitability and sufficient competition.
2. Paragraph 1 shall apply to contracts having a value equal to or greater than the thresholds laid down in Article 7 of Directive 2004/18/EC.
3. Where Member States provide any incentives for a product covered by a delegated act they shall aim at the highest performance levels including the highest class of energy efficiency laid down in the applicable delegated act. Taxation and fiscal measures do not constitute incentives for the purpose of this Directive.
4. Where Member States provide incentives for products, both for end-users using highly efficient products and for industries which promote and produce such products, they shall express the performance levels in terms of classes as defined in the applicable delegated act, except where they impose higher performance levels than the threshold for the highest energy efficiency class in the delegated act. Member States may impose higher performance levels than the threshold for the highest energy efficiency class in the delegated act.
Article 10
Delegated acts
1. The Commission shall lay down details relating to the label and the fiche by means of delegated acts in accordance with Articles 11 to 13, relating to each type of product in accordance with this Article.
Where a product meets the criteria listed in paragraph 2, it shall be covered by a delegated act in accordance with paragraph 4.
Provisions in delegated acts regarding information provided on the label and in the fiche on the consumption of energy and other essential resources during use shall enable end-users to make better informed purchasing decisions and shall enable market surveillance authorities to verify whether products comply with the information provided.
Where a delegated act lays down provisions with respect to both energy efficiency and consumption of essential resources of a product, the design and content of the label shall emphasise the energy efficiency of the product.
2. The criteria referred to in paragraph 1 are the following:
(a)
according to most recently available figures and considering the quantities placed on the Union market, the products shall have a significant potential for saving energy and, where relevant, other essential resources;
(b)
products with equivalent functionality available on the market shall have a wide disparity in the relevant performance levels;
(c)
the Commission shall take into account relevant Union legislation and self-regulation, such as voluntary agreements, which are expected to achieve the policy objectives more quickly or at lesser expense than mandatory requirements.
3. In preparing a draft delegated act, the Commission shall:
(a)
take into account those environmental parameters set out in Annex I, Part 1, to Directive 2009/125/EC which are identified as significant in the relevant implementing measure adopted under Directive 2009/125/EC and which are relevant for the end-user during use;
(b)
assess the impact of the act on the environment, end-users and manufacturers, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in terms of competitiveness including on markets outside the Union, innovation, market access and costs and benefits;
(c)
carry out appropriate consultation with stakeholders;
(d)
set implementing date(s), any staged or transitional measures or periods, taking into account in particular possible impacts on SMEs or on specific product groups manufactured primarily by SMEs.
4. The delegated acts shall specify in particular:
(a)
the exact definition of the type of products to be included;
(b)
the measurement standards and methods to be used in obtaining the information referred to in Article 1(1);
(c)
the details of the technical documentation required pursuant to Article 5;
(d)
the design and content of the label referred to in Article 4, which as far as possible shall have uniform design characteristics across product groups and shall in all cases be clearly visible and legible. The format of the label shall retain as a basis the classification using letters from A to G; the steps of the classification shall correspond to significant energy and cost savings from the end-user perspective.
Three additional classes may be added to the classification if required by technological progress. Those additional classes will be A+, A++, and A+++ for the most efficient class. In principle the total number of classes will be limited to seven, unless more classes are still populated.
The colour scale shall consist of no more than seven different colours from dark green to red. The colour code of only the highest class shall always be dark green. If there are more than seven classes, only the red colour can be duplicated.
The classification shall be reviewed in particular when a significant proportion of products on the internal market achieves the two highest energy efficiency classes and when additional savings may be achieved by further differentiating products.
Detailed criteria for a possible reclassification of products are, where appropriate, to be determined on a case-by-case basis in the relevant delegated act;
(e)
the location where the label shall be fixed to the product displayed and the manner in which the label and/or information are to be provided in the case of offers for sale as covered by Article 7. Where appropriate, the delegated acts may provide for the label to be attached to the product or printed on the packaging, or for the details of the labelling requirements for printing in catalogues, for distance selling and Internet sales;
(f)
the content and, where appropriate, the format and other details concerning the fiche or further information specified in Article 4 and Article 5(c). The information on the label shall also be included on the fiche;
(g)
the specific content of the label for advertising, including, as appropriate, the energy class and other relevant performance level(s) of the given product in a legible and visible form;
(h)
the duration of label classification(s), where appropriate, in accordance with point (d);
(i)
the level of accuracy in the declarations on the label and fiches;
(j)
the date for the evaluation and possible revision of the delegated act, taking into account the speed of technological progress.
Article 11
Exercise of the delegation
1. The powers to adopt the delegated acts referred to in Article 10 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years beginning on 19 June 2010. The Commission shall make a report in respect of the delegated powers not later than six months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of powers shall be automatically extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council revokes it in accordance with Article 12.
2. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
3. The powers to adopt delegated acts are conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in Articles 12 and 13.
Article 12
Revocation of the delegation
1. The delegation of powers referred to in Article 10 may be revoked by the European Parliament or by the Council.
2. The institution which has commenced an internal procedure for deciding whether to revoke the delegation of powers shall endeavour to inform the other institution and the Commission within a reasonable time before the final decision is taken, indicating the delegated powers which could be subject to revocation and possible reasons for a revocation.
3. The decision of revocation shall put an end to the delegation of the powers specified in that decision. It shall take effect immediately or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of the delegated acts already in force. It shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 15
Penalties
Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and its delegated acts, including unauthorised use of the label, and shall take the necessary measures to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. The Member States shall notify these provisions to the Commission by 20 June 2011 and shall notify the Commission without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting those provisions.
Article 18
Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Points (d), (g) and (h) of Article 5 shall apply from 31 July 2011.
Article 19
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 19 May 2010.
For the European Parliament
The President
J. BUZEK
For the Council
The President
D. LÓPEZ GARRIDO
REGULATION (EC) No 66/2010 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 25 November 2009
Regulation on the EU Ecolabel
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3),
Whereas:
(1)
The aim of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme (4) was to establish a voluntary ecolabel award scheme intended to promote products with a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle and to provide consumers with accurate, non-deceptive, science-based information on the environmental impact of products.
(2)
The experience gained during the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 has shown the need to amend that ecolabel scheme in order to increase its effectiveness and streamline its operation.
(3)
The amended scheme (hereinafter ‘the EU Ecolabel scheme’) should be implemented in compliance with the provisions of the Treaties, including, in particular, the precautionary principle as laid down in Article 174(2) of the EC Treaty.
(4)
It is necessary to ensure coordination between the EU Ecolabel scheme and the establishment of the requirements in the context of Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy related products (5).
(5)
The EU Ecolabel scheme is part of the sustainable consumption and production policy of the Community, which aims at reducing the negative impact of consumption and production on the environment, health, climate and natural resources. The scheme is intended to promote those products which have a high level of environmental performance through the use of the EU Ecolabel. To this effect, it is appropriate to require that the criteria with which products must comply in order to bear the EU Ecolabel be based on the best environmental performance achieved by products on the Community market. Those criteria should be simple to understand and to use and should be based on scientific evidence, taking into consideration the latest technological developments. Those criteria should be market oriented and limited to the most significant environmental impacts of products during their whole life cycle.
(6)
In order to avoid the proliferation of environmental labelling schemes and to encourage higher environmental performance in all sectors for which environmental impact is a factor in consumer choice, the possibility of using the EU Ecolabel should be extended. However, for food and feed product groups, a study should be undertaken to ensure that criteria are feasible and that added value can be guaranteed. For food and feed products, as well as unprocessed agricultural products that lie within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products (6), the option that only those products certified as organic would be eligible for award of the EU Ecolabel should be considered, to avoid confusion for consumers.
(7)
The EU Ecolabel should aim at substituting hazardous substances by safer substances, wherever technically possible.
(8)
For the acceptance by the general public of the EU Ecolabel scheme, it is essential that environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consumer organisations play an important role and be actively involved in the development and setting of EU Ecolabel criteria.
(9)
It is desirable that any interested party may lead the development or revision of EU Ecolabel criteria provided that common procedural rules are followed and that the process is coordinated by the Commission. In order to ensure the overall coherence of the Community’s action, it is also appropriate to require that the latest strategic objectives of the Community in the field of the environment, such as Environment Action Programmes, Sustainable Development Strategies and Climate Change Programmes, be taken into account in the development or revision of EU Ecolabel criteria.
(10)
In order to simplify the EU Ecolabel scheme and to reduce the administrative burden associated with the use of the EU Ecolabel, the assessment and verification procedures should be streamlined.
(11)
It is appropriate to provide for the conditions under which the EU Ecolabel may be used and, in order to ensure compliance with those conditions, to require competent bodies to undertake verifications and to prohibit the use of the EU Ecolabel where the conditions for use have not been complied with. It is also appropriate to require Member States to lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and to ensure that they are implemented.
(12)
In order to increase the use of the EU Ecolabel and in order to encourage those whose products meet the EU Ecolabel criteria, the costs of using the EU Ecolabel should be reduced.
(13)
It is necessary to inform the public and to raise public awareness of the EU Ecolabel through promotion actions, information and education campaigns, at local, national and Community levels, in order to make consumers aware of the meaning of the EU Ecolabel and to enable them to make informed choices. It is also necessary in order to make the scheme more attractive to producers and retailers.
(14)
Member States should consider guidelines when they establish their national Green Public Procurement Action Plans and could consider the setting of targets for public purchasing of environmental friendly products.
(15)
In order to facilitate the marketing of products bearing environmental labels at national and Community levels, to limit additional work for companies, in particular SMEs, and to avoid confusing consumers, it is also necessary to enhance the coherence and promote harmonisation between the EU Ecolabel scheme and national ecolabelling schemes in the Community.
(16)
In order to ensure a harmonised application of the awarding system and of the market surveillance and control of the use of the EU Ecolabel throughout the Community, competent bodies should exchange information and experiences.
(17)
The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (7).
(18)
In particular, the Commission should be empowered to adopt the criteria with which products must comply in order to bear the EU Ecolabel and to amend the Annexes to this Regulation. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, inter alia by supplementing it with new non-essential elements, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.
(19)
For reasons of clarity and legal certainty, Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 should therefore be replaced by this Regulation.
(20)
Appropriate transitional provisions should be provided to ensure a smooth transition between Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 and this Regulation,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Subject matter
This Regulation lays down rules for the establishment and application of the voluntary EU Ecolabel scheme.
Article 2
Scope
1. This Regulation shall apply to any goods or services which are supplied for distribution, consumption or use on the Community market whether in return for payment or free of charge (hereinafter ‘products’).
2. This Regulation shall apply neither to medicinal products for human use, as defined in Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (8), or for veterinary use, as defined in Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products (9), nor to any type of medical device.
Article 3
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
1.
‘product group’ means a set of products that serve similar purposes and are similar in terms of use, or have similar functional properties, and are similar in terms of consumer perception;
2.
‘operator’ means any producer, manufacturer, importer, service provider, wholesaler or retailer;
3.
‘environmental impact’ means any change to the environment resulting wholly or partially from a product during its life cycle;
4.
‘environmental performance’ means the result of a manufacturer’s management of those characteristics of a product that cause environmental impact;
5.
‘verification’ means a procedure to certify that a product complies with specified EU Ecolabel criteria.
Article 4
Competent bodies
1. Each Member State shall designate the body or bodies, within government ministries or outside, responsible for carrying out the tasks provided for in this Regulation (‘the competent body’ or ‘the competent bodies’) and ensure that they are operational. Where more than one competent body is designated, the Member State shall determine those bodies’ respective powers and the coordination requirements applicable to them.
2. The composition of the competent bodies shall be such as to guarantee their independence and neutrality and their rules of procedure shall be such as to ensure transparency in the conduct of their activities as well as the involvement of all interested parties.
3. Member States shall ensure that competent bodies meet the requirements laid down in Annex V.
4. Competent bodies shall ensure that the verification process is carried out in a consistent, neutral and reliable manner by a party independent from the operator being verified, based on international, European or national standards and procedures concerning bodies operating product-certification schemes.
Article 5
European Union Ecolabelling Board
1. The Commission shall establish a European Union Ecolabelling Board (EUEB) consisting of the representatives of the competent bodies of all the Member States, as referred to in Article 4, and of other interested parties. The EUEB shall elect its president according to its rules of procedure. It shall contribute to the development and revision of EU Ecolabel criteria and to any review of the implementation of the EU Ecolabel scheme. It shall also provide the Commission with advice and assistance in these areas and, in particular, issue recommendations on minimum environmental performance requirements.
2. The Commission shall ensure that, in the conduct of its activities, the EUEB observes a balanced participation of all relevant interested parties in respect of each product group, such as competent bodies, producers, manufacturers, importers, service providers, wholesalers, retailers, notably SMEs, and environmental protection groups and consumer organisations.
Article 6
General requirements for EU Ecolabel criteria
1. EU Ecolabel criteria shall be based on the environmental performance of products, taking into account the latest strategic objectives of the Community in the field of the environment.
2. EU Ecolabel criteria shall set out the environmental requirements that a product must fulfil in order to bear the EU Ecolabel.
3. EU Ecolabel criteria shall be determined on a scientific basis considering the whole life cycle of products. In determining such criteria, the following shall be considered:
(a)
the most significant environmental impacts, in particular the impact on climate change, the impact on nature and biodiversity, energy and resource consumption, generation of waste, emissions to all environmental media, pollution through physical effects and use and release of hazardous substances;
(b)
the substitution of hazardous substances by safer substances, as such or via the use of alternative materials or designs, wherever it is technically feasible;
(c)
the potential to reduce environmental impacts due to durability and reusability of products;
(d)
the net environmental balance between the environmental benefits and burdens, including health and safety aspects, at the various life stages of the products;
(e)
where appropriate, social and ethical aspects, e.g. by making reference to related international conventions and agreements such as relevant ILO standards and codes of conduct;
(f)
criteria established for other environmental labels, particularly officially recognised, nationally or regionally, EN ISO 14024 type I environmental labels, where they exist for that product group so as to enhance synergies;
(g)
as far as possible the principle of reducing animal testing.
4. EU Ecolabel criteria shall include requirements intended to ensure that the products bearing the EU Ecolabel function adequately in accordance with their intended use.
5. Before developing EU Ecolabel criteria for food and feed products, as defined in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (10), the Commission shall undertake a study, by 31 December 2011 at the latest, exploring the feasibility of establishing reliable criteria covering environmental performance during the whole life cycle of such products, including the products of fishing and aquaculture. The study should pay particular attention to the impact of any EU Ecolabel criteria on food and feed products, as well as unprocessed agricultural products that lie within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. The study should consider the option that only those products certified as organic would be eligible for award of the EU Ecolabel, to avoid confusion for consumers.
The Commission shall decide, taking into account the outcome of the study and the opinion of the EUEB, for which group of food and feed, if any, the development of EU Ecolabel criteria is feasible, in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 16(2).
6. The EU Ecolabel may not be awarded to goods containing substances or preparations/mixtures meeting the criteria for classification as toxic, hazardous to the environment, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR), in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (11), nor to goods containing substances referred to in Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency (12).
7. For specific categories of goods containing substances referred to in paragraph 6, and only in the event that it is not technically feasible to substitute them as such, or via the use of alternative materials or designs, or in the case of products which have a significantly higher overall environment performance compared with other goods of the same category, the Commission may adopt measures to grant derogations from paragraph 6. No derogation shall be given concerning substances that meet the criteria of Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and that are identified according to the procedure described in Article 59(1) of that Regulation, present in mixtures, in an article or in any homogeneous part of a complex article in concentrations higher than 0,1 % (weight by weight). Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 16(2).
Article 7
Development and revision of EU Ecolabel criteria
1. Following consultation of the EUEB, the Commission, Member States, competent bodies and other stakeholders may initiate and lead the development or revision of EU Ecolabel criteria. Where such other stakeholders are put in charge of leading the development of criteria, they must demonstrate expertise in the product area, as well as the ability to lead the process with neutrality and in line with the aims of this Regulation. In this regard, consortiums consisting of more than one interest group shall be favoured.
The party which initiates and leads the development or revision of EU Ecolabel criteria shall, in accordance with the procedure set out in Part A of Annex I, produce the following documents:
(a)
a preliminary report;
(b)
a proposal for draft criteria;
(c)
a technical report in support of the proposal for draft criteria;
(d)
a final report;
(e)
a manual for potential users of the EU Ecolabel and competent bodies;
(f)
a manual for authorities awarding public contracts.
Those documents shall be submitted to the Commission and to the EUEB.
2. Where criteria have already been developed under another ecolabel scheme complying with the requirements of EN ISO 14024 type I environmental labels for a product group for which no EU Ecolabel criteria have been established, any Member State in which the other ecolabel scheme is recognised may, after consulting the Commission and the EUEB, propose those criteria for development under the EU Ecolabel scheme.
In such cases, the shortened criteria development procedure laid down in Part B of Annex I may apply provided that the proposed criteria have been developed in line with Part A of Annex I. Either the Commission or the Member State which, according to the first subparagraph, has proposed the shortened criteria development procedure shall lead that procedure.
3. Where a non-substantial revision of the criteria is necessary, the shortened revision procedure laid down in Part C of Annex I may apply.
4. By 19 February 2011, the EUEB and the Commission shall agree on a working plan including a strategy and a non-exhaustive list of product groups. This plan will consider other Community action (e.g. in the field of green public procurement) and may be updated according to the latest strategic objectives of the Community in the field of the environment. This plan shall be regularly updated.
Article 8
Establishment of EU Ecolabel criteria
1. Draft EU Ecolabel criteria shall be developed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex I and taking into account the working plan.
2. The Commission shall, no later than nine months after consulting the EUEB, adopt measures to establish specific EU Ecolabel criteria for each product group. These measures shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
In its final proposal, the Commission shall take into account the comments of the EUEB and shall clearly highlight, document and provide explanations for the reasoning behind any changes in its final proposal compared to the proposal for draft criteria following the consultation of the EUEB.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 16(2).
3. In the measures referred to in paragraph 2 the Commission shall:
(a)
establish requirements for assessing the compliance of specific products with EU Ecolabel criteria (‘assessment requirements’);
(b)
specify, for each product group, three key environmental characteristics that may be displayed in the optional label with text box described in Annex II;
(c)
specify, for each product group, the relevant period of validity of the criteria and of the assessment requirements;
(d)
specify the degree of product variability allowed during the period of validity referred to in point (c).
4. When establishing EU Ecolabel criteria, care shall be taken not to introduce measures whose implementation may impose disproportionate administrative and economic burdens on SMEs.
Article 9
Award of the EU Ecolabel and terms and conditions of its use
1. Any operator who wishes to use the EU Ecolabel shall apply to the competent bodies referred to in Article 4 in accordance with the following rules:
(a)
where a product originates in a single Member State, the application shall be presented to a competent body of that Member State;
(b)
where a product originates in the same form in several Member States, the application may be presented to a competent body in one of those Member States;
(c)
where a product originates outside the Community, the application shall be presented to a competent body in any of the Member States in which the product is to be or has been placed on the market.
2. The EU Ecolabel shall have the form depicted in Annex II.
The EU Ecolabel may only be used in connection with products complying with the EU Ecolabel criteria applicable to the products concerned and for which the EU Ecolabel has been awarded.
3. Applications shall specify the full contact details of the operator, as well as the product group in question and shall contain a full description of the product as well as all other information requested by the competent body.
Applications shall include all relevant documentation, as specified in the relevant Commission measure establishing EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group in question.
4. The competent body to which an application is made shall charge fees according to Annex III. The use of the EU Ecolabel shall be conditional upon the fees having been paid in due time.
5. Within two months of receipt of an application, the competent body concerned shall check whether the documentation is complete and shall notify the operator. The competent body may reject the application if the operator fails to complete the documentation within six months after such notification.
Provided that the documentation is complete and the competent body has verified that the product complies with the EU Ecolabel criteria and assessment requirements published according to Article 8, the competent body shall assign a registration number to the product.
Operators shall meet the costs of testing and assessment of conformity with EU Ecolabel criteria. Operators may be charged for travel and accommodation costs where an on-site verification is needed outside the Member State in which the competent body is based.
6. Where EU Ecolabel criteria require production facilities to meet certain requirements, they shall be met in all facilities in which the product bearing the EU Ecolabel is manufactured. Where appropriate, the competent body shall undertake on-site verifications or assign an authorised agent for that purpose.
7. Competent bodies shall preferentially recognise tests which are accredited according to ISO 17025 and verifications performed by bodies which are accredited under the EN 45011 standard or an equivalent international standard. Competent bodies shall collaborate in order to ensure the effective and consistent implementation of the assessment and verification procedures, notably through the working group referred to in Article 13.
8. The competent body shall conclude a contract with each operator, covering the terms of use of the EU Ecolabel (including provisions for the authorisation and withdrawal of the EU Ecolabel, notably following the revision of criteria). To that end a standard contract shall be used in accordance with the template in Annex IV.
9. The operator may place the EU Ecolabel on the product only after conclusion of the contract. The operator shall also place the registration number on the product bearing the EU Ecolabel.
10. The competent body which has awarded the EU Ecolabel to a product shall notify the Commission thereof. The Commission shall establish a common register and update it regularly. That register shall be publicly available on a website dedicated to the EU Ecolabel.
11. The EU Ecolabel may be used on the products for which the EU Ecolabel has been awarded and on their associated promotional material.
12. The award of the EU Ecolabel shall be without prejudice to environmental or other regulatory requirements of Community or national law applicable to the various life stages of the product.
13. The right to use the EU Ecolabel shall not extend to the use of the EU Ecolabel as a component of a trademark.
Article 10
Market surveillance and control of the use of the EU Ecolabel
1. Any false or misleading advertising or use of any label or logo which leads to confusion with the EU Ecolabel shall be prohibited.
2. The competent body shall, in respect of products to which it has awarded the EU Ecolabel, verify that the product complies with the EU Ecolabel criteria and assessment requirements published under Article 8, on a regular basis. The competent body shall, as appropriate, also undertake such verifications upon complaint. These verifications may take the form of random spot-checks.
The competent body which has awarded the EU Ecolabel to the product shall inform the user of the EU Ecolabel of any complaints made concerning the product bearing the EU Ecolabel, and may request the user to reply to those complaints. The competent body may withhold the identity of the complainant from the user.
3. The user of the EU Ecolabel shall allow the competent body which has awarded the EU Ecolabel to the product to undertake all necessary investigations to monitor its on-going compliance with the product group criteria and Article 9.
4. The user of the EU Ecolabel shall, upon request by the competent body which has awarded the EU Ecolabel to the product, grant access to the premises on which the product concerned is produced.
The request may be made at any reasonable time and without notice.
5. Where, after giving the user of the EU Ecolabel the opportunity to submit observations, any competent body which finds that a product bearing the EU Ecolabel does not comply with the relevant product group criteria or that the EU Ecolabel is not used in accordance with Article 9, it shall either prohibit the use of the EU Ecolabel on that product, or, in the event that the EU Ecolabel has been awarded by another competent body, it shall inform that competent body. The user of the EU Ecolabel shall not be entitled to repayment of the fees referred to in Article 9(4), either in whole or in part.
The competent body shall without delay inform all other competent bodies and the Commission of that prohibition.
6. The competent body which has awarded the EU Ecolabel to the product shall not disclose, or use for any purpose unconnected with the award for use of the EU Ecolabel, information to which it has gained access in the course of assessing the compliance by a user of the EU Ecolabel with the rules on use of the EU Ecolabel set out in Article 9.
It shall take all reasonable steps to secure the protection of the documents provided to it against falsification and misappropriation.
Article 11
Ecolabelling schemes in the Member States
1. Where EU Ecolabel criteria for a given product group have been published, other nationally or regionally officially recognised EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabelling schemes which do not cover that product group at the time of publication may be extended to that product group only where the criteria developed under those schemes are at least as strict as the EU Ecolabel criteria.
2. In order to harmonise the criteria of European ecolabelling schemes (EN ISO 14024 type I), EU Ecolabel criteria shall also take into account existing criteria developed in officially recognised ecolabelling schemes in the Member States.
Article 12
Promotion of the EU Ecolabel
1. Member States and the Commission shall, in cooperation with the EUEB, agree on a specific action plan to promote the use of the EU Ecolabel by:
(a)
awareness-raising actions and information and public education campaigns for consumers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers, service providers, public purchasers, traders, retailers and the general public,
(b)
encouraging the uptake of the scheme, especially for SMEs,
thus supporting the development of the scheme.
2. Promotion of the EU Ecolabel may be undertaken via the EU Ecolabel website providing basic information and promotional materials on the EU Ecolabel, and information on where to purchase EU Ecolabel products, in all Community languages.
3. Member States shall encourage the use of the ‘Manual for authorities awarding public contracts’, as specified in Annex I, Part A, point 5. For this purpose, Member States shall consider, for example, the setting of targets for the purchasing of products meeting the criteria specified in that Manual.
Article 13
Exchange of information and experiences
1. In order to foster consistent implementation of this Regulation, competent bodies shall regularly exchange information and experiences, in particular on the application of Articles 9 and 10.
2. The Commission shall set up a working group of competent bodies for this purpose. The working group shall meet at least twice a year. Travel expenses shall be borne by the Commission. The working group shall elect its chair and adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 14
Report
By 19 February 2015, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the implementation of the EU Ecolabel scheme. The report shall also identify elements for a possible review of the scheme.
Article 15
Amendment of Annexes
The Commission may amend the Annexes, including modifying the maximum fees provided for in Annex III taking into account the need for fees to cover the costs of running the scheme.
Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 16(2).
Article 16
Committee procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 17
Penalties
Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. The Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission without delay and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them.
Article 18
Repeal
Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 is hereby repealed.
Article 19
Transitional provisions
Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 shall continue to apply to contracts concluded under Article 9 thereof until the date of expiry specified in those contracts, except for its provisions concerning fees.
Article 9(4) of and Annex III to this Regulation shall apply to such contracts.
Article 20
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 25 November 2009.
For the European Parliament
The President
J. BUZEK
For the Council
The President
Å. TORSTENSSON
(1) OJ C 120, 28.5.2009, p. 56.
(2) OJ C 218, 11.9.2009, p. 50.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 2 April 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 26 October 2009.
(4) OJ L 237, 21.9.2000, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 285, 31.10.2009, p. 10.
(6) OJ L 189, 20.7.2007, p. 1.
(7) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(8) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67.
(9) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 1.
(10) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1.
(11) OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1.
(12) OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1.
ANNEX I
PROCEDURE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND REVISION OF EU ECOLABEL CRITERIA
A. Standard procedure
The following documents must be drawn up:
1. Preliminary report
The preliminary report must contain the following elements:
—
Quantitative indication of the potential environmental benefits related to the product group, including consideration of the benefits from other similar European and national or regional EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabelling schemes,
—
Reasoning for choice and scope of product group,
—
Consideration of any possible trade issues,
—
Analysis of other environmental labels’ criteria,
—
Current laws and ongoing legislative initiatives related to the product group sector,
—
Analysis of the possibilities of substitution of hazardous substances by safer substances, as such or via the use of alternative materials or designs, wherever technically feasible, in particular with regard to substances of very high concern as referred to in Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006,
—
Intra-community market data for the sector, including volumes and turnover,
—
Current and future potential for market penetration of the products bearing the EU Ecolabel,
—
Extent and overall relevance of the environmental impacts associated with the product group, based on new or existing life cycle assessment studies. Other scientific evidence may also be used. Critical and controversial issues shall be reported in detail and evaluated,
—
References of data and information collected and used for issuing the report.
The preliminary report shall be made available on the Commission’s dedicated EU Ecolabel website for comment and reference during the development of the criteria.
Where criteria are to be developed for food and feed product groups, the preliminary report must, with reference to the study undertaken according to Article 6(5), demonstrate the following:
—
there is a real added environmental value in developing EU Ecolabel criteria for the chosen product,
—
the EU Ecolabel has considered the whole life cycle of the product, and
—
the use of the EU Ecolabel on the chosen product will not cause confusion when compared with other food labels.
2. Proposal for draft criteria and associated technical report
Following the publication of the preliminary report, a proposal for draft criteria and a technical report in support of the proposal shall be established.
The draft criteria shall comply with the following requirements:
—
they shall be based on the best products available on the Community market in terms of environmental performance throughout the life cycle, and they shall correspond indicatively to the best 10-20 % of the products available on the Community market in terms of environmental performance at the moment of their adoption,
—
in order to allow for the necessary flexibility the exact percentage shall be defined on a case-by-case basis and in each case with the aim of promoting the most environmentally friendly products and ensuring that consumers are provided with sufficient choice,
—
they shall take into consideration the net environmental balance between the environmental benefits and burdens, including health and safety aspects; where appropriate, social and ethical aspects shall be considered, e.g. by making reference to related international conventions and agreements such as relevant ILO standards and codes of conduct,
—
they shall be based on the most significant environmental impacts of the product, be expressed as far as reasonably possible via technical key environmental performance indicators of the product, and be suitable for assessment according to the rules of this Regulation,
—
they shall be based on sound data and information which are representative as far as possible of the entire Community market,
—
they shall be based on life cycle data and quantitative environmental impacts, where applicable in compliance with the European Reference Life Cycle Data Systems (ELCD),
—
they shall take into consideration the views of all interested parties involved in the consultation process,
—
they shall guarantee harmonisation with existing legislation applicable to the product group when considering definitions, test methods and technical and administrative documentation,
—
they shall take into account relevant Community policies and work done on other related product groups.
The proposal for draft criteria shall be written in a way that is easily accessible to those wishing to use them. It shall provide justification for each criterion and explain the environmental benefits related to each criterion. It shall highlight the criteria corresponding to the key environmental characteristics.
The technical report shall include at least the following elements:
—
the scientific explanations of each requirement and criterion,
—
a quantitative indication of the overall environmental performance that the criteria are expected to achieve in their totality, when compared to that of the average products on the market,
—
an estimation of the expected environmental/economic/social impacts of the criteria as a whole,
—
the relevant test methods for assessment of the different criteria,
—
an estimation of testing costs,
—
for each criterion, information about all tests, reports and other documentation that shall be produced by users on request from a competent body in accordance with Article 10(3).
The proposal for draft criteria and the technical report shall be made available for public consultation on the Commission’s dedicated EU Ecolabel website for comment. The party leading the product group development shall distribute the proposal and the report to all interested parties.
At least two open working group meetings shall be held on the draft criteria, to which all interested parties, such as competent bodies, industry (including SMEs), trade unions, retailers, importers, environmental and consumer organisations, shall be invited. The Commission shall also participate in those meetings.
The proposal for draft criteria and the technical report shall be made available at least one month before the first working group meeting. Any subsequent proposal for draft criteria shall be made available at least one month before subsequent meetings. The reasoning behind any changes to the criteria in subsequent drafts shall be fully explained and documented with reference to discussions in the open working groups meetings and comments received in public consultation.
Responses shall be given to all comments received during the criteria development process, indicating whether they are accepted or rejected and why.
3. Final report and draft criteria
The final report shall contain the following elements:
Clear responses to all comments and proposals, indicating whether they are accepted or rejected and why. European Union and non-European Union interested parties shall be treated on an equal footing.
It shall also include the following elements:
—
a one-page summary of the level of support for the draft criteria by the competent bodies,
—
a summary list of all documents circulated in the course of the criteria development work, together with an indication of the date of circulation of each document and to whom each document has been circulated, and a copy of the documents in question,
—
a list of the interested parties involved in the work or which have been consulted or have expressed an opinion, together with their contact information,
—
an executive summary,
—
three key environmental characteristics for the product group that may be displayed in the optional label with text box described in Annex II,
—
a proposal for a marketing and communication strategy for the product group.
Any observations received on the final report shall be taken into consideration, and information on the follow-up to the comments shall be provided on request.
4. Manual for potential users of the EU Ecolabel and competent bodies
A manual shall be established in order to assist potential users of the EU Ecolabel and competent bodies in assessing the compliance of products with the criteria.
5. Manual for authorities awarding public contracts
A manual providing guidance for the use of EU Ecolabel criteria to authorities awarding public contracts shall be established.
The Commission will provide templates translated into all official Community languages for the manual for potential users and competent bodies and for the manual for authorities awarding public contracts.
B. Shortened procedure where criteria have been developed by other EN ISO 14024 type I ecolabelling schemes
A single report shall be submitted to the Commission. This report shall include a section demonstrating that the technical and consultation requirements set out in Part A have been met, along with a proposal for draft criteria, a manual for potential users of the EU Ecolabel and competent bodies, and a manual for authorities awarding public contracts.
If the Commission is satisfied that the report and criteria meet the requirements set out in Part A, the report and the proposal for draft criteria shall be made available for public consultation on the Commission’s dedicated EU Ecolabel website for a period of two months for comment.
Responses shall be given to all comments received during the public consultation period, indicating whether each comment is accepted or rejected and why.
Subject to any changes made during the public consultation period, and if no Member State requests an open working group meeting, the Commission may adopt the criteria pursuant to Article 8.
Upon request from any Member State, an open working group meeting shall be held on the draft criteria, in which all interested parties, such as competent bodies, industry (including SMEs), trade unions, retailers, importers, environmental and consumer organisations, shall participate. The Commission shall also participate in that meeting.
Subject to any changes made during the public consultation period or during the working group meeting, the Commission may adopt the criteria pursuant to Article 8.
C. Shortened procedure for non-substantial revision of the criteria
The Commission shall produce a report containing the following:
—
a justification explaining why there is no need for a full revision of the criteria and why a simple updating of the criteria and their stringency levels is sufficient,
—
a technical section updating the previous market data used for the setting of the criteria,
—
a proposal for draft revised criteria,
—
a quantitative indication of the overall environmental performance that the revised criteria are expected to achieve in their totality, when compared to that of the average products on the market,
—
a revised manual for potential users of the EU Ecolabel and competent bodies, and
—
a revised manual for authorities awarding public contracts.
The report and the proposal for draft criteria shall be made available for public consultation on the Commission’s dedicated EU Ecolabel website for a period of two months for comment.
Responses shall be given to all comments received during the public consultation period, indicating whether each comment is accepted or rejected and why.
Subject to any changes made during the public consultation period, and if no Member State requests an open working group meeting, the Commission may adopt the criteria pursuant to Article 8.
Upon request from any Member State, an open working group meeting shall be held on the draft revised criteria, in which all interested parties, such as competent bodies, industry (including SMEs), trade unions, retailers, importers, environmental and consumer organisations, shall participate. The Commission shall also participate in that meeting.
Subject to any changes made during the public consultation period or during the working group meeting, the Commission may adopt the criteria pursuant to Article 8.
ANNEX II
FORM OF THE EU ECOLABEL
The EU Ecolabel shall take the following form:
Label:
Image
Optional label with text box (the possibility for the operator to use this text box and the text used shall be that specified in the relevant product group criteria):
Image
The EU Ecolabel registration number shall also appear on the product. It shall take the following form:
Image
Where xxxx refers to the country of registration, yyy refers to the product group and zzzzz refers to the number given by the competent body.
The label, the optional label with text box and the registration number shall be printed either in two colours (Pantone 347 green for the leaves and stem of the flower, the ‘Є’ symbol, the web address and the EU acronym and Pantone 279 for all other elements, text and borders), or in black on white, or in white on black.
ANNEX III
FEES
1. Application fee
The competent body to which an application is made shall charge a fee according to the real administrative costs of processing the application. This fee shall be no lower than EUR 200 and no higher than EUR 1 200.
In the case of small and medium enterprises (1) and operators in developing countries, the maximum application fee shall be no higher than EUR 600.
In the case of micro-enterprises (1) the maximum application fee shall be EUR 350.
The application fee shall be reduced by 20 % for applicants registered under the Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) and/or certified under the standard ISO 14001. This reduction is subject to the condition that the applicant explicitly commits, in its environmental policy, to ensure full compliance of its ecolabelled products with the EU Ecolabel criteria throughout the period of validity of the contract and that this commitment is appropriately incorporated into the detailed environmental objectives. ISO 14001 certified applicants shall demonstrate annually the implementation of this commitment. EMAS registered applicants shall forward a copy of their annually verified environmental statement.
2. Annual fee
The competent body may require each applicant who has been awarded an EU Ecolabel to pay an annual fee of up to EUR 1 500 for the use of the label.
In the case of small and medium enterprises and operators in developing countries, the maximum annual fee shall be no higher than EUR 750.
In the case of micro-enterprises the maximum annual fee shall be EUR 350.
The period covered by the annual fee will begin with the date of the award of the EU Ecolabel to the applicant.
(1) SMEs and micro-enterprises as defined by Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36).
ANNEX IV
STANDARD CONTRACT COVERING THE TERMS OF USE OF THE EU ECOLABEL
PREAMBLE
The competent body … (full title) hereinafter called ‘the competent body’,
registered at … (full address), which for the purposes of the signature of this contract is represented by … (name of person responsible), … (full name of holder), in his capacity as producer, manufacturer, importer, service provider, wholesaler or retailer whose official registered address is … (full address), hereafter called ‘the holder’, represented by … (name of person responsible), have agreed the following with regard to the use of the EU Ecolabel, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (1), hereinafter ‘the EU Ecolabel Regulation’:
1. USE OF THE EU ECOLABEL
1.1. The competent body grants the holder the right to use the EU Ecolabel for his products as described in the annexed product specifications, which conform to the relevant product group criteria in force for the period …, adopted by the Commission of the European Communities on … (date), published in the Official Journal of the European Union of … (full reference), and annexed to this contract.
1.2. The EU Ecolabel shall be used only in the forms stipulated in Annex II to the EU Ecolabel Regulation.
1.3. The holder shall ensure that the product to be labelled complies throughout the duration of this contract with all the terms of use and provisions set out in Article 9 of the EU Ecolabel Regulation, at all times. No new application will be required for modifications in the characteristics of the products which do not affect compliance with the criteria. The holder shall however inform the competent body of such modifications by registered letter. The competent body may carry out appropriate verifications.
1.4. The contract may be extended to a wider range of products than those initially foreseen, subject to agreement by the competent body, and subject to the condition that they belong to the same product group and that they also comply with its criteria. The competent body may verify that these conditions are met. The Annex detailing the product specifications shall be modified accordingly.
1.5. The holder shall not advertise or make any statement or use any label or logo in a way which is false or misleading or which results in confusion with, or calls into question the integrity of, the EU Ecolabel.
1.6. The holder shall be responsible under this contract for the manner in which the EU Ecolabel is used in relation to his product, especially in the context of advertising.
1.7. The competent body, including its agents authorised for such purpose, may undertake all necessary investigations to monitor the ongoing compliance by the holder with both the product group criteria and the terms of use and provisions of this contract in accordance with the rules laid down in Article 10 of the EU Ecolabel Regulation.
2. SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL
2.1. In the event that the holder becomes aware that he is failing to meet the terms of use or provisions contained in Article 1 of this contract, the holder shall notify the competent body and refrain from using the EU Ecolabel until those terms for use or provisions have been fulfilled and the competent body has been notified thereof.
2.2. Where the competent body considers that the holder has contravened any of the terms of use or provisions of this contract, the competent body shall be entitled to suspend or withdraw its authorisation to the holder to use the EU Ecolabel, and to take such measures as are necessary to prevent the holder from using it further, including such measures as are provided for in Articles 10 and 17 of the EU Ecolabel Regulation.
3. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY
3.1. The holder shall not include the EU Ecolabel as part of any guarantee or warranty in relation to the product referred to in Article 1.1 of this contract.
3.2. The competent body, including its authorised agents, shall not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by the holder arising out of the award and/or use of the EU Ecolabel.
3.3. The competent body, including its authorised agents, shall not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by a third party and arising out of the award and/or use, including advertising, of the EU Ecolabel.
3.4. The holder shall indemnify and keep indemnified the competent body and its authorised agents against any loss, damage or liability sustained by the competent body, or its authorised agents, as a result of a breach of this contract by the holder or as a result of reliance by the competent body on information or documentation provided by the holder, including any claims by a third party.
4. FEES
4.1. The amount of application fee and annual fee shall be defined in accordance with Annex III of the EU Ecolabel Regulation.
4.2. Use of the EU Ecolabel is conditional upon all relevant fees having been paid in due time.
5. CONTRACT DURATION AND APPLICABLE LAW
5.1. Except as provided for in Article 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, this contract shall run from the date on which it is signed until (…) or until expiry of the product group criteria, whichever is sooner.
5.2. Where the holder has contravened any of the terms of use or provisions of this contract within the meaning of Article 2.2, the competent body shall be entitled to treat this as a breach of contract entitling the competent body, in addition to the provisions in Article 2.2, to terminate the contract, by registered letter to the holder, at an earlier date than that set out in Article 5.1, within (a time period to be determined by the competent body).
5.3. The holder may terminate the contract by giving the competent body three months’ notice by registered letter.
5.4. If the product group criteria as stated in Article 1.1 are extended without amendments for any period, and if no written notice of termination from the competent body has been given at least three months before the expiry of the product group criteria and of this contract, the competent body shall inform the holder at least three months in advance that the contract shall be automatically renewed for as long as the product group criteria remain in force.
5.5. After the termination of this contract the holder may not use the EU Ecolabel in relation to the product specified in Article 1.1 and in the Annex to this contract, either as labelling or for advertising purposes. The EU Ecolabel may nevertheless, for a period of six months after the termination, be displayed on stock held by the holder or others and manufactured before the termination. This latter provision shall not apply if the contract has been terminated for the reasons set out in Article 5.2.
5.6. Any dispute between the competent body and the holder or any claim by one party against the other based on this contract which has not been settled by amicable agreement between the contracting parties, shall be subject to the applicable law determined in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I) (2) and Regulation (EC) No 864/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations (Rome II (3)).
The following Annexes shall form part of this contract:
—
a copy of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel, in (the relevant Community language(s)),
—
product specifications, which shall at least include details of the names, and/or the manufacturer’s internal reference numbers, the manufacturing sites, and the related EU Ecolabel registration number or numbers,
—
a copy of Commission Decision (… on product group criteria),
Done at … date …
…
(Competent body)
Designated person …
…
(Legally binding signature)
…
(Holder)
Designated person …
…
(Legally binding signature)
(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.2010, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 177, 4.7.2008, p. 6.
(3) OJ L 199, 31.7.2007, p. 40.
ANNEX V
REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COMPETENT BODIES
1. A competent body shall be independent of the organisation or the product it assesses.
A body belonging to a business association or professional federation representing undertakings involved in the design, manufacturing, provision, assembly, use or maintenance of products which it assesses, may, on condition that its independence and the absence of any conflict of interest are demonstrated, be designated as a competent body.
2. A competent body, its top-level management and the personnel responsible for carrying out the conformity assessment tasks shall not be the designer, manufacturer, supplier, installer, purchaser, owner, user or maintainer of the products which they assess, nor the authorised representative of any of those parties. This shall not preclude the use of assessed products that are necessary for the operations of the competent body or the use of such products for personal purposes.
A competent body, its top-level management and the personnel responsible for carrying out the conformity assessment tasks shall not be directly involved in the design, manufacture or construction, the marketing, installation, use or maintenance of those products, or represent the parties engaged in those activities. They shall not engage in any activity that may conflict with their independence of judgment or integrity in relation to conformity assessment activities for which they are designated. This shall in particular apply to consultancy services.
Competent bodies shall ensure that the activities of their subsidiaries or subcontractors do not affect the confidentiality, objectivity or impartiality of their conformity assessment activities.
3. Competent bodies and their personnel shall carry out the conformity assessment activities with the highest degree of professional integrity and the requisite technical competence in the specific field and shall be free from all pressures and inducements, particularly financial, which might influence their judgment or the results of their conformity assessment activities, especially as regards persons or groups of persons with an interest in the results of those activities.
4. A competent body shall be capable of carrying out all the conformity assessment tasks assigned to it by this Regulation, whether those tasks are carried out by the competent body itself or on its behalf and under its responsibility.
At all times and for each conformity assessment procedure and each kind or category of products in relation to which it has been designated, a competent body shall have at its disposal the necessary:
(a)
technical knowledge and sufficient and appropriate experience to perform the conformity assessment tasks;
(b)
descriptions of procedures in accordance with which conformity assessment is carried out, ensuring the transparency and the ability of reproduction of those procedures. It shall have appropriate policies and procedures in place that distinguish between tasks it carries out as a competent body and other activities;
(c)
procedures for the performance of activities which take due account of the size of an undertaking, the sector in which it operates, its structure, the degree of complexity of the product technology in question and the mass or serial nature of the production process.
It shall have the means necessary to perform the technical and administrative tasks connected with the conformity assessment activities in an appropriate manner and shall have access to all necessary equipment or facilities.
5. The personnel responsible for carrying out conformity assessment activities shall have the following:
(a)
sound knowledge covering all the conformity assessment activities in relation to which the competent body has been designated;
(b)
the ability to draw up certificates, records and reports demonstrating that assessments have been carried out.
6. The impartiality of the competent bodies, of their top level management and of the assessment personnel shall be guaranteed.
The remuneration of the top-level management and assessment personnel of a competent body shall not depend on the number of assessments carried out or on the results of those assessments.
7. Competent bodies shall participate in, or ensure that their assessment personnel are informed of, the relevant standardisation activities and the activities of the working group of competent bodies referred to in Article 13 of this Regulation and apply as general guidance the administrative decisions and documents produced as a result of the work of that group.
/