Textile Product Safety (OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100) Certification

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a product-safety certificate showing that textile products contain no substances harmful to human health. It is NOT a sustainability or organic-content certificate: it looks at what is not in the product, not how the raw material was produced. Products are divided into four classes by degree of skin contact; the limits are strictest for baby products (Class I).

• Yarn, fabric and garment manufacturers
• Home-textile and upholstery-fabric manufacturers
• Baby- and children's-clothing manufacturers
• Accessory, thread, button and zip manufacturers
• Firms selling textiles into European retail

Voluntary. However, REACH Annex XVII restrictions and regulations on textile chemicals are mandatory in the EU; because an OEKO-TEX certificate offers a test scope that overlaps substantially with these restrictions, it is widely requested by buyers.

• Product classes: Class I (baby), II (skin contact), III (no skin contact), IV (decoration)
• Prohibited azo dyes and aromatic amines
• Heavy metals and extractable metal content
• Formaldehyde limits
• Pesticide residues
• Phthalates and organotin compounds
• Chlorinated phenols and chlorinated benzenes
• PFAS and allergenic dyes
• pH value and colour fastness
• Volatile organic compounds and odour
• Annual renewal and updating of the limit-value list

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• GOTSOrganic Textiles
• GRSRecycled Content
• RCSRecycled Claim
• Recycled ContentRecycled Content Declaration
• FSC CoCForest Products
• PEFC CoCForest Products
• Chain of Custody
• ISCC EUBiofuel