The Zurich (Switzerland)-based Oeko-Tex Standard 100, developed in 1992, is an international testing and certification system for apparel and textiles products, limiting the use of certain chemicals.
Recently the association has announced the updated applicable test criteria and limit values under Oeko-Tex Standard 100. Under the new parameters, textiles submitted for certification will in future be tested for eight additional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In product category ‘1’, which includes textile products for babies and toddlers up to 3 years (clothing, toys, bedding, towels, etc.), the existing limit value for benzo(a)pyrene will furthermore be lowered to 0.5 mg/kg and the previously valid sum limit value for all other PAHs will be lowered to 5 mg/kg.
In view of the classification as a “substance of very high concern” (SVHC) in the sense of the REACH legislation, dimethylformamide (DMF) will be added to the list of regulated solvents with a limit value of 0.1 %.
