Mandatory standard updated
This mandatory standard was updated on 5 September 2023.
There is a transition period until 5 March 2025 for suppliers to adjust to the new mandatory standard.
On this page
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.
This information is an overview of how to comply with the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
View the full detail of the 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.
Mandatory standard details
The Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023 sets out the mandatory requirements for the labelling of prescribed products.
The accompanying Explanatory Statement has further information.
This mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the:
- voluntary Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles - Care labelling
- International Standard ISO 3758:2012 Textiles—Care labelling code using symbols.
You can buy both standards from Intertek Inform and Accuris.
We can make a copy of this standard available for viewing at an ACCC office, subject to licensing conditions.
Transition period
The mandatory standard was updated on 5 September 2023.
Until 5 March 2025, suppliers can choose to provide a care label under the previous mandatory standard or under the current mandatory standard
- Under the previous mandatory standard, suppliers can provide a care label written in English.
- Under the new mandatory standard, supplier can provide a care label written in English, or by using the care symbols, or both.
From 5 March 2025 suppliers will need to comply with the current mandatory standard. This allows suppliers to provide a care label:
- written in English, or
- by using the care symbols, or
- written in English and by using the care symbols.
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.