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EU: CEN published EN 17137 Test method of Chlorinated Organic Carriers

JANUARY 2019 - Relevant for: SOFTLINES

On 28 November 2018, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published a new testing standard EN 17137:2018¹ determining the content of chlorobenzenes and chlorotoluenes. The Members of the CEN have to adopt the new standard and publish their own national version no later than 31 May 2019.

Chlorobenzenes and chlorotoluenes are known as chlorinated organic carriers² (CoC). They are used as dye carriers in synthetic textiles especially polyesters and intermediates in the production of other chemicals. It may be found as residues in finished textiles products. Certain CoC³ will be restricted under REACH Annex XVII entry 72 from 1 November 2020.

This new standard EN 17137:2018 was developed based on German standard DIN 54232:2010⁴. As the EN standard is now available, the DIN standard will be withdrawn by May 2019. EN 17137 is applicable to textile products made of components of fabric, lining, plastic slide fasteners, plastic buttons, labels, threads and appliques. This testing method is applicable to measure CoC concentration ranged from 0.1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. Samples were cut and extracted via ultrasonication using dichloromethane. Gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer with selected ion mode is adopted to measure the concentration of CoC.

[1] EN 17137:2018, Textiles, Determination of the content of compounds based on chlorobenzenes and chlorotoluenes

[2] Technical Guidance of CoC

[3] TÜV SÜD E-ssential volume 20, 2018

[4] DIN 54232:2010, Textiles, Determination of the content of bonds based on chlorobenzene and chlorotoluene