EU
(Source: Euratex)
The REACH4texiles project, funded by the European Commission, aims at exploring solutions for fair and effective market surveillance on textile products. Every year, about 28 billion garments circulate across Europe, 80% of which are imported from outside the EU and its jurisdiction. Inevitably, such huge volumes pose enormous challenges for market surveillance authorities which are called to ensure that uncompliant dangerous products are kept away from EU citizens.
The European Union (EU) has the world most comprehensive chemical legislation (REACH regulations) which is set to protect consumers, the environment and, theoretically, even the competitiveness of the business. Evidence suggests that such an advanced regulatory framework is not completed with an equally advanced or effective EU-wide control system capable of ensuring compliance, especially in the case of imported products.
The REACH4texiles project pools together the key actors to address 3 objectives: keep non-compliant products away from the single market; increase skills and knowledge, and support a network addressing chemicals in textiles and applying the EU regulation 2019/1020.
The 2 years project will share best practices, identify efficient approaches against non-compliant products, offer training and support for a more effective surveillance and for level playing field. Supported by the European Commission DG Growth, the project team is coordinated by the test and research center Centexbel, Gent/Belgium, and include the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex), Brussels/Belgium, the German national textile and fashion association textil+mode, Berlin/Germany, and the textile and health association Associazione Tessile e Salute, Biella/Italy. Several other European industry associations and national authorities are welcomed to become involved through the project activities.
