Care labelling for clothing and textiles mandatory standard

Products the mandatory standard applies to

The mandatory standard for care labelling for clothing and textiles applies to:

• clothing
• household textiles
• apparel
• furnishings
• upholstered furniture
• bedding, mattresses and bed bases
• piece goods and yarns made from textiles
• plastic and plastic coated fabrics
• suede
• skins
• hides
• leathers
• furs.

Products the mandatory standard does not apply to

The mandatory standard doesn’t cover:

• second-hand goods
• some types of men’s, women’s, children’s and infant’s wear, including all unsupported coats (including overcoats, jackets and the like) made of PVC film, handkerchiefs, braces, garter suspenders, arm bands, belts and headwear
• all footwear other than all types of hosiery and textile materials used  for manufacturing footwear
• drapery such as floor cloths, dish cloths, dusters, cleaning cloths, pressing cloths
• haberdashery such as ornaments, artificial flowers, sewing and embroidery threads and all other small items of haberdashery used for making of clothing and textile products
• furnishings such as oil baize, window blinds, shade blinds, sun blinds, awnings, floor coverings, light fittings, lampshades, tapestries, wall hangings, ornaments, handicraft items, draught excluders, non-upholstered furniture
• cushions and cushion covers manufactured from remnants and labelled by the manufacturer with the following disclaimer ‘cushion cover manufactured from remnant/s, care treatment unknown’
• jute products
• medical and surgical goods
• canvas goods such as beach and garden umbrella coverings
• miscellaneous goods such as cords, twines, lashings, garden hose, toys, umbrellas and parasols, shoelaces, woven labels, flex coverings, sporting and gardening gloves, mops, basket hangers, shoe holders, remnants, industrial gloves, polypropylene webbing furniture
• articles designed to be thrown away after one use except where included, or intended for one use only, such as disposable plastic rain ponchos or interment garments for the deceased
• all bags and cases including handbags, purses, wallets, travel bags, school bags, sports bags, briefcases and wash bags.

Complying with the mandatory standard

This mandatory standard outlines labelling requirements for clothing and textiles covered under this standard.

Suppliers must meet the requirements in this mandatory standard but they may provide extra information such as care instructions in other languages.

The mandatory standard allows care instructions written in English or the use of the 5 internationally recognised care symbols, or both. View more information on the international care symbols for clothing and textiles.

When a product does not comply

Fines and penalties may apply for failure to comply with the mandatory safety or information standard.

Suppliers may need to recall a product when it doesn't meet the mandatory standard or is potentially unsafe.

See also

Care labelling on clothing and textiles consumer guidance