Chemical Testing

Safeguard your customers, employees and the environment

Businesses in the textiles and leather industries face an additional challenge. Many chemicals used in both wet and dry processes can be dangerous to people and the environment. Regulations strictly limit the amount of these substances that may be used during manufacturing and subsequently released when the product is used. These regulations vary from market to market. To help you operate within the regulated limits, TÜV SÜD offers chemical testing services for:

• Restricted Substance List (RSL)
• REACH
• CPSIA

Restricted Substance List (RSL)

To help manufacturers become more alert to the amount of chemicals and metals permitted in their finished textile, apparel and footwear products, many associations (governmental and non-governmental) and buyers have created a Restricted Substance List (RSL).

TÜV SÜD offers comprehensive training in this area, combined with expert opinion on issues you may face in aligning your use of hazardous substances to the RSL. We provide testing solutions to determine a product’s RSL compliance, identify any elements that need to be replaced and how new compliant materials and components will perform.

Our range of safety marks for chemical content are recognized worldwide by professional buyers and consumers, enhancing confidence in your products.

The implications of REACH for Softlines product

The REACH regulation – Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – is the latest European chemicals legislation. Replacing 40 existing chemicals directives and regulations, REACH is a coherent yet complex system. One significant feature of REACH is that for the first time, the responsibility for ensuring the safety of chemicals and their products has shifted from the authorities to those who place them on the market.

These changes mean that manufacturers and importers are facing many new challenges. Chemicals that are manufactured, used or present in products (called ‘articles’ in REACH) such as textiles and garments, toys, and electrical and electronic products are also governed by REACH. Although REACH is a European regulation, global trade means it also has profound impacts outside of the EU.

REACH compliance is far more than simply meeting chemicals requirements. With its numerous implementation timelines and different obligations for different products and actors in the supply chain, REACH compliance requires a business strategy that will meet all these evolving obligations in a timely manner. Decisions and investments must be based on sound business knowledge, technical competence and regulatory expertise. That’s why there is no one-size-fits-all solution – every REACH compliance strategy is unique.

Let TÜV SÜD be your REACH solutions partner by providing you with the following services:

• Registration – a full range of services including third-party representative (TPR), only representative (OR), registration dossier preparation, chemical safety report preparation and GHS/CLP-related services
• Restriction – chemical testing for restricted substances and substances of very high concern (SVHC)
• Training – in-house REACH training and supplier training
• Expert Opinion – TÜV SÜD’s knowledge services can help you select the most cost-effective chemical testing strategy based on risk assessment of the materials, as well as assist in the planning of your REACH compliance strategy

Learn more about TÜV SÜD's support of REACH.

Conforming with the CPSIA

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) sets out new compliance, testing and certification requirements for children’s products in the US. It includes limits on lead and phthalates in children’s products, mandatory toy standards, and mandatory third-party testing and certification requirements.

With laboratories accredited by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), TÜV SÜD is uniquely placed to assist your business with CPSIA testing and certification requirements. By formulating and implementing reliable quality assurance systems, we help you avoid banned materials. Our significant hands-on experience in the children’s products industry enables us to offer complete, tailor-made solutions.

For more information regarding chemical testing, contact us.