Textile Exports To EU Will Be Restricted By PFOS Directive, Zhejiang Textile Enterprises Respond Slowly.

China's textile export quota system, which was launched last year, has slowed down the pace of textile exports in Zhejiang.

Just after the end of the quota system at the end of 2007, a lot of small and medium-sized textile enterprises and other enterprises came to the end of the year. Recently, the bad news came out that the EU Directive on restricting the sale and use of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS directive) will come into effect in June 27th.

The directive stipulates that the content of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonyl) compounds in the finished products sold on the European market should not exceed 0.005% of the total quality, which marks the EU's total ban on the use of PFOS in commodities.

After the implementation of the directive, the foreign trade enterprises that produce textile, leather and other products will be affected accordingly.

As a major export province of textiles and leather products, Zhejiang will face a "big exam".

It is understood that the EU PFOS directive is a "difficult problem" after the EU's restrictions on the content of azo dyes and heavy metals in textiles and leather products.

Experts said that foreign trade enterprises should not be too nervous. They should communicate with EU importers as soon as possible and take measures to deal with them.

New rules --

PFOS content of European products

No more than 0.005% of total quality.

According to the relevant professionals, PFOS is especially widely used in the textile industry. It is the main active ingredient of antifouling agents for textiles and leather products. A large amount of printing and dyeing and finishing textiles need to be washed by PFOS before processing. In addition, the additives used for functional finishing such as anti ultraviolet and antibacterial functions also contain PFOS, but it is the most difficult to degrade organic pollutants at present. It has high bioaccumulation and toxicity. It will not only cause respiratory problems, but also lead to the death of new babies. The global pollution caused by it is attracting increasing attention.

It is understood that the EU Directive on the sale and use of perfluorooctane sulfonate was jointly issued by the European Parliament and the Council of ministers in December 27, 2006. They defined PFOS as a substance that persists in the environment, has biological savings and is harmful to human beings.

In accordance with the EU Council's regulations on assessing and controlling the risk of existing substances, the United Kingdom submitted the PFOS risk assessment report to the European Commission and its strategy for reducing its harm and its impact assessment. The European Commission conducted a scientific review of the report and confirmed the danger of PFOS.

In December 5, 2005, the European Commission put forward proposals and instructions on restricting the sale and use of PFOS, and assessed the cost, benefits, balance and legality of the proposal.

The EU's directive on the sale and use of perfluorooctane sulfonate was officially promulgated and entered into force on December 27, 2006.

The directive stipulates that in the EU market, substances that contain substances or elements with PFOS content or quality equal to or exceeding 0.005% shall not be sold and put into operation. No finished products, semi-finished products and parts with PFOS concentration or quality equal to or exceeding 0.1% shall be sold.

In order to phase out the use of PFOS, the limits of instructions should be evaluated when new situations or safety substitutes are present.

However, there are exceptions in some cases. There are no restrictions on products used and used in the market. Photo resist materials such as photographic lithographic coating and aviation hydraulic products are not applicable to environment and human beings. This directive is not applicable. In the PFOS coating industry, the most advanced technology in the current stage is used to minimize emissions.

Predicament --

General reaction of Zhejiang enterprises is slow.

This directive of the European Union is aimed at all manufacturers, including their Member States, that sell PFOS products in the EU market.

After the entry into force, the use and market delivery of PFOS products will be limited to a large extent, and the textile production enterprises are the first to bear the brunt.

For China, such a big exporter, there is no doubt that it will be very influential.

However, reporters in the interview learned that domestic enterprises responded relatively insipid. Reporters learned from the media that at present only Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Hebei and other enterprises react faster, and have issued relevant risk warning, some enterprises are also taking measures to deal with it.

Zhejiang is a major export province for textiles and leather products. Textiles, clothing and leather are among the main exports of Zhejiang, while the EU market accounts for a large share of the export market.

According to statistics, in the first quarter of this year, Zhejiang's exports of textiles amounted to 4 billion 490 million US dollars, an increase of 38.1% over the same period last year, which is 19.4 percentage points higher than that of the same period in 2007 and 4 billion 360 million US dollars for export garments.

Among them, in the first quarter, Zhejiang exported 860 million dollars of textiles to Europe, an increase of 38%, and 1 billion 570 million euros of clothing exported to Europe, an increase of 37.2%.

The implementation of this directive will directly affect the export of textiles, leather, printing and dyeing auxiliaries and other products in our province.

What is the attitude of Zhejiang enterprises?

A telephone interview with a staff member of the Zhejiang textile import and Export Group Co., Ltd., the company's office, said that the company had not received any relevant notice and had no knowledge of the PFOS directive.

The reporter interviewed 6 enterprises randomly, of which 5 textile exporters said they knew nothing about it.

The head of an enterprise also said that since the previous textile exports did not test the PFOS, it did not pay attention to this information.

Reporters learned in the interview that Zhejiang enterprises were rather slow in response. Most export companies still don't know what the PFOS directive is, or even whether they contain PFOS components in their products.

Relatively speaking, Shaoxing responded more quickly.

On the 20 day of last month, the Shaoxing Municipal Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau issued an emergency risk warning. Most enterprises in Shaoxing have been alerted.

The EU PFOS directive is another "difficulty" after the EU's restrictions on the content of azo dyes and heavy metals in textiles and leather products. The impact on foreign trade of Zhejiang and even the whole country will be greater than the previous other green trade barriers and trade frictions.

According to the relevant staff of the Provincial Department of foreign trade and economic cooperation, at present, the foreign trade department has embarked on relevant measures.

Way out --

No rain silk can cope with green trade barriers.

In response to the EU PFOS directive, relevant professionals have suggested that there are more ideal substitutes in the world. However, China has not yet developed a spinning system that can fully comply with the EU's PFOS control standard.