The European Commission has proposed a regulation on placing an extra entry in Annex XVII of REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 for restrictions on decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE).

DecaBDE is known as a widely used flame retardant added to plastic and textile articles, and also adhesives, sealants, coatings and inks. As decaBDE is a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substance, the following restrictions have been proposed:

1. DecaBDE shall not be manufactured or placed on the market as a substance on its own.
2. DecaBDE shall not be used in a concentration ≥ 0.1 % by weight in the production of, or place on the market in:
   a) Another substance as a constituent;
   b) A mixture;
   c) An article or any part of an article.

The restrictions in points 1 and 2 shall not apply to substances and mixtures with decaBDE used in the following articles:

1. Aircraft and their spare parts produced not later than 10 years after enforcement of the regulation;
2. Spare parts of vehicles and machines not later than 18 months after enforcement of the regulation;
3. Articles placed on the market not later than 18 months after enforcement of the regulation; and
4. Electrical and electronic equipment

[Note: Content of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in these equipment shall be ≤ 0.1 % under Directive 2011/65/EU].

The Solution:

Intertek Softlines focuses on textile and footwear service, which is one of the earliest businesses that Intertek developed in China. Starting from 1989, Intertek Softlines has set up laboratories and offices in textile and footwear industry clusters, and now can support its customers through its network of more than 20 laboratories and offices and over 2000 experts and professionals around China.

We can not only offer testing and certification services for finished products including textile and garment, shoes and leather goods, but also help companies to ｅｘｅｃute quality control over the whole industry chain from raw material to finished products.

Our Main Services:

• Textile, Apparel and Accessories testing
• Footwear and Material testing
• Handbag & Leather Goods testing
• Individual Protective Equipment (PPE) testing and certification
• Restricted substances testing

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

www.intertek.com.cn