Australia: Updated requirements for care labelling of textile products
SEPTEMBER 2023 - SOFTLINES
On 4 September 2023, the Federal Register of Legislation of Australia published the Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 20231 (the new standard). This instrument repeals the Consumer Product Information Standard Care Labelling for Clothing and Textile Products (Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010)2, which specifies the requirements for care labelling of textile products.
Compared with current standard for care labelling, the new standard keeps the product scope the same, i.e. clothing, household textiles, apparel (including articles such as wedding dresses, christening gowns, and promotional, sample and flawed articles), furnishings, upholstered furniture, bedding (including sleeping bags), mattresses, bed bases, piece goods and yarns made from textiles, plastics, plastic coated fabrics, suede, skins, hides, grain leathers and/or furs. Some products are exempted from this standard for care labelling, e.g. second-hand products, footwear, etc.
According to the current standard for care labelling, the regulated products must comply with the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles—Care labelling with modification. In the new standard, besides AS/NZS 1957:1998 with modifications, the label complies with the international standard ISO 3758:2012 Textiles—Care labelling code using symbols is also accepted.
The new standard sets two transitional periods, i.e. 6 months and 12 months respectively. The requirements during different periods are specified below.
| Period | Requirements |
| During 1st transitional period (before 5 March 2024) |
|
| During 2nd transitional period (5 March 2024 to 5 March 2025) |
|
| After 2nd transitional period (after 5 March 2025) |
|
[1] Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023
[2] Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010
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