What Will The EU REACH Regulation Bring To Chinese Textile Clothing?

In June 1st, the European Union's REACH code (full name "chemical registration, evaluation, licensing and restriction") came into effect on the 3rd anniversary day.

More than a month ago, an environmental Commissioner of the EU said that some parts of the REACH regulations were unclear and needed to be revised to speed up the process of replacing hazardous chemicals with safe substances.

What will this change bring to China's textile and garment industry?

Dye chemical enterprises should pay attention to the revised content.

"As a whole, the most important influence of the REACH regulations on China's textile industry is the difficulty in increasing the export of textile and clothing, raising the price of dyes and chemicals, and increasing the cost of the textile industry."

One industry insider said.

Textile industry belongs to the downstream industry of chemical industry.

Various dyes, auxiliaries and finishing agents containing chemical components will be used in dyeing and finishing of textile yarns and fabrics.

These yarns, fabrics and textile products and garments made of it inevitably contain some chemicals.

These chemicals are "chemicals in products" regulated by the REACH regulations.

{page_break} of course, although most textiles and clothing contain more or less chemicals, they are not subject to REACH regulations.

Manufacturers and importers of textiles and clothing need to register, apply for permission or use restricted substances only when the chemicals contained in the products comply with the regulatory requirements of the REACH regulations.

Industry experts say that, from a positive perspective, the stringent environmental and technical standards of the REACH regulations are conducive to promoting the technological process and quality of textile enterprises in China to a certain extent, thus promoting the industrial structure adjustment and industrial upgrading of the textile industry.

But in the early stage of the implementation of REACH regulations, China's textile industry is bound to shoulder considerable negative effects.

The REACH regulation has increased the production cost of textile export enterprises, and reduced the competitiveness of downstream products of China's export textile industry in the EU market.

The completion of registration and licensing procedures requires a large amount of material, including some reports that must be obtained through complex technical testing and assessment.

Enterprises need to pay high fees (including testing, assessment, registration, licensing fees, etc.).

It is estimated that the registration and testing costs of each phased chemical substance of each registrar are estimated to be 85 thousand euros (excluding long-term assessment fees), and the registration and testing costs of each non phased chemical substance of each registrar should be 255 thousand euro dollars (excluding long-term assessment fees).

Although China is a large country of textile and garment production, most export enterprises are small and medium-sized, and the products exported mostly belong to medium and low grade products.

Small and medium-sized textile and garment export enterprises are at the low and middle levels, no matter in the level of enterprise management, or in the textile equipment grade and product processing technology.

To meet the requirements of the EU's new chemical policy on textiles, it is still very difficult to strictly control the harmful substances produced in the textile production process, and we need more investment in capital, equipment, talents and production technology.

In addition, the EU's new chemicals policy guarantees the very stringent requirements for imported textiles and clothing. The importers can ask the exporters for arbitrary requirements such as breach of contract, return, price reduction, claim settlement, etc., on the pretext that the quality of products is not up to standard and the content of chemical components is not qualified.

{page_break} the EU environment commissioner has suggested that there are only 30 substances in the list of highly concerned substances (SVHC). In addition to the newly added acrylamide, the other 29 substances are waiting to be replaced.

Reporters interviewed a number of testing organizations on this topic. Some testing organizations believed that the REACH regulations had little impact on textile enterprises, while dye chemical enterprises should pay more attention. Several other testing organizations did not pay much attention to the specific revision of REACH regulations.

39 The inspection and Certification Center has provided a reporter with information on 29 substances that are highly concerned and are waiting to be replaced (SVHC), including two cobalt chloride, five oxidized two arsenic, arsenic trioxide, lead hydrogen arsenate, anthracene, dichromate and so on.

Five measures to deal with REACH regulations

TESTEX, a staff member of Swiss textile certification company, told reporters that textile and garment enterprises should be cautious and optimistic about REACH regulations.

Enterprises should pay close attention to changes in prohibited chemicals and substances of high concern in REACH regulations, and pay attention to changes in limiting values, so as to reduce risks when products are exported.

For our textile and garment enterprises in Europe, the first task is to understand the REACH regulations first and find out whether the export of the enterprises will be affected by the REACH regulations. If it is thought that they may be affected, enterprises should fully understand the impact and influence of REACH regulations on the industry, especially the enterprises that produce, operate and use chemicals need to understand the safety characteristics of chemical substances.

Communicate with upstream and downstream enterprises, especially those of their respective businesses in the European Union, to find out whether chemicals in their own chemical products or downstream products need to be registered, when to complete registration, and collect data and information required for registration as soon as possible.

{page_break} secondly, enterprises should be familiar with the contents of REACH regulations, especially the contents of technical guidance documents.

Efforts should be made to adopt international standards or physical standard organization of world famous enterprises, strengthen testing technology and means, and strive for mutual recognition of EU inspection data.

In addition, enterprises should check all the chemicals used in the enterprise, and determine the categories of these chemicals according to the requirements of the REACH regulations. If the products covered by the REACH regulations contain chemicals, they should proceed with the consultation as soon as possible and prepare for them ahead of schedule.

Moreover, familiarity with relevant registration, evaluation and authorization procedures should be based on different categories, and prepare relevant technical materials needed for pre registration and registration to meet the full implementation of REACH regulations.

Finally, we should make full use of the bridge role of trade associations to strengthen communication with government departments such as inspection and quarantine, WTO affairs center, and timely obtain information and technical support from government departments, and timely feedback relevant information.