This mandatory standard specifies the labelling requirements for certain textile products.
About care labelling
Care labelling provides the public with enough information to:
- know how to care for clothing and textile products
- have prior knowledge of costs such as dry cleaning in the ongoing care of clothing and textile products
- understand how to clean clothing and textile products properly (e.g. cold hand wash only)
- maximise the useful life of clothing and textile products
- avoid damage such as dyes running (e.g. wash separately).
The mandatory standard requires that textile products including clothing, textiles, furnishing and suede skins, leathers and furs must have adequate care labelling instructions in English attached to the item.
The mandatory standard for care labelling for clothing and textiles applies to:
- clothing
- household textiles
- furnishings
- piece goods made from textiles
- plastic coated fabrics
- suede skins
- leathers
- furs.
Exclusions
The mandatory standard excludes:
- second hand goods
- some types of men’s, women’s, children’s and infant’s wear (unsupported coats (including overcoats, jackets and the like) of PVC film, handkerchiefs, braces, garter suspenders, arm bands, belts, headwear)
- footwear (all footwear other than all types of hosiery and textile materials used in the manufacture of footwear)
- drapery (floor cloths, dish cloths, dusters, cleaning cloths, pressing cloths)
- haberdashery (ornaments, artificial flowers, sewing and embroidery threads and all other small items of haberdashery)
- furnishings (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 (beach and garden umbrella coverings)
- miscellaneous goods (cords, twines, lashings, garden hose, toys, umbrellas and parasols, shoelaces, woven labels, flex coverings, sporting and gardening gloves, articles designed to be disposed of after one use (except where specifically included) or intended for one use only (including disposable plastic rain ponchos and interment garments for the deceased), mops, basket hangers, shoe holders, remnants, industrial gloves, polypropylene webbing furniture, all bags and cases (including handbags, purses, wallets, travel bags, school bags, sports bags, briefcases and wash bags)).
Mandatory standard
Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010 sets out the mandatory requirements for the labelling of a variety of prescribed products.
This mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the voluntary Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles - Care labelling. AS/NZS 1957:1998 is available from SAI Global
Key requirements
These requirements aim to give suppliers a general idea of what is required by the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
Labelling
The mandatory standard requires that textile products including clothing, textiles, furnishing and suede skins, leathers and furs must have adequate care labelling instructions in English attached to the item.
Care symbols alone are not sufficient. However, extra information such as care symbols or instructions in other languages may be provided.
Review of the standard
We are currently reviewing the Care labelling for clothing and textile products information standard to assess its ongoing efficacy in providing consumers and industry professionals with appropriate information and care procedures for clothing and textiles.
Related resources
Care labelling - supplier guide
