The Korean Agency for Science, Technology and Standards (KATS) recently announced a proposal to revise the "Industrial Product Safety and Quality Labelling Standards" (Annex 1: Home Textile Products). According to a document published by the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade of the World Trade Organization, such a requirement should be implemented by September 2012.
Purpose of the revision:
• By revising safety and quality labeling standards for children's clothing, limiting the use of harmful materials or adding warning information, we can ensure children's safety from risks posed by harmful materials or fire.
Main revisions:
• Increase regulations restricting the use of nickel in electromagnetic shielding fabric products.
• Flammable children's pajamas must be clearly marked with a flame symbol ("Caution: Flame" symbol).
• Increase regulations restricting the use of phthalate plasticizers in children's backpacks.
• Product projects subject to safety management have been identified:
-Children's textile products: backpacks (including school bags);
-Outdoor clothing: swimwear, sportswear, tracksuits, cold protection masks;
-Outerwear: Warm arm sleeves;
-Bedding: Hammock;
Table 1: Safety Requirements under Current Textile Safety and Quality Standards
| Test items | Require |
| Children's textiles (under 12 years old)* | underwear | Outdoor clothing | Coats and bedding |
| Formaldehyde (mg/kg) | 75 or below | 300或以下 |
| pH | 4.0 to 7.5 | 4.0 to 9.0 |
| Azo dyes (mg/kg) | 30 or below |
| Organotin compounds (mg/kg) | TBT | 1.0 or below |
| Dimethyl fumarate (mg/kg) | 0.1 or below |
| Total phthalate plasticizers (%) | 0.1 or below | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| Lead (mg/kg) | 90 or below | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| thin rope | Compliance (Reasonability) | not applicable | not applicable | not applicable |
| Flame retardant | none |
| Disperse dyes | none | not applicable | not applicable |
*Children's textiles (under 12 years old) include underwear, outdoor clothing, outerwear, tights, socks, and bags (including school bags).
Table 2: Proposed Additional Safety Requirements for Textile Safety and Quality Standards
| Test items | Require |
| Nickel release* | Children's textiles (under 12 years old)* | underwear | Outdoor clothing | Coats and bedding |
| | 0.5/microgram/square centimeter/week |
*Nickel release is applicable to electromagnetic shielding products, such as electromagnetic shielding fabrics/silk or building materials.
*Children's textiles (under 12 years old) include underwear, outdoor clothing, outerwear, tights, socks, and bags (including school bags).
Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network (2012-02-06)
