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Your regular update for technical and industry information

USA: ASTM international revised the standard for care symbols for textile products

april 2018 - Relevant for: softflines INDUSTRY

Recently, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has revised the standard for care symbols for textile products “ASTM D5489 - 18 - The Standard Guide for Care Symbols for Care Instructions on Textile Products”1.

The new standard includes an explanation on the specific scope of use of symbols for U.S. market. As per the FTC Care Labelling Rule (16 CFR 423)2, textile apparel shall have a written care instruction. The FTC also permits to use care symbols instead of written care instruction, however, in that case, ASTM D5489-96c version of symbols must be used.

The revised standard, ASTM D5489-18, clarifies that, the symbols, as included in this new version may be used provided symbols are used in addition to full care instructions written in English wording.

The new standard also clarifies that the professional wet clean symbol may only be used when another full care instruction is included, such as when dry-cleaning or machine washing/drying symbols are present.

Key highlights on differences between ASTM D5489-96c and ASTM D5489-18:

ASTM D5489-18

ASTM D5489-96c

  • This standard includes symbols for “Wet clean” process.

  • For dry-cleaning instruction, the circle symbol is used with the letters “P” or “F”.

  • Only mild cycle for dry-cleaning are available and represented by abar under the circle symbol.

  • No symbols are available for “Wet clean” process.

  • For dry-cleaning instruction, circle symbol is used with the letters “A”, “P” or “F”.

  • Additional instruction - ‘short cycle’, ‘reduced moisture’, ‘low heat’ and ‘no steam finishing’ are available for dry-cleaning instruction and represented by a bar placed at different position around the circle symbol.

 

[1] ASTM D5489 - 18 
[2] FTC’s Care Labeling Rule

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