EU Will Fully Implement NPE Ban On Imported Textiles

Reporters learned from relevant channels that recently, the European Union adopted a ban on nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPE) in textiles.

The ban has set a 5 year pition period. If the content of textile NPE exceeds 0.01% (i.e. 100mg/kg) after the expiry, it will not be allowed to enter the EU market.

The industry believes that the ban will have far-reaching impact on textile enterprises.

It is understood that NPE is a commonly used surfactant component in industrial detergents and detergent products. It is widely used in textile industry and remains in textile fibers.

NPE residues in clothing will not directly threaten human health, but NPE can enter the environment with the washing process.

NPE can easily decompose nonylphenol (NP) and other components in water. NP is a widely recognized environmental hormone. It simulates estrogens to interfere with the sexual development and endocrine of organisms, thereby affecting animal breeding. Even low concentration is also very harmful.

Studies have shown that NP can accumulate through the food chain and eventually cause premature sexual maturity and decline in reproductive quality.

To this end, the international environmental protection organization in 2011 for textile NPE residue survey, and in August of that year issued a public report, said 2/3 of the clothing contains NPE, including many world famous brands.

At present, the prohibition of NPE has attracted widespread attention, and many well-known garment enterprises have begun to work out plans to eliminate harmful chemicals.

It is understood that the EU ban is actually in April 16, 2018 the EU environmental protection grounds, through the WTO website to the Member States issued in the G/TBT/N/EU/280 notification referred to in the revised draft REACH regulations.

According to the draft, the EU will implement the NPE ban on imported textiles in addition to the repeated use of washed or used textiles.

The industry pointed out that in the world of consumer goods "safety, health, environmental protection" requirements, the world is strengthening the control of NPE, the European Union's latest ban was put forward by Sweden in 2013, has been strongly supported by European Chemicals authority scientists.

Although the NPE hazard has reached a consensus, the ban on NPE will still have a huge impact on the development of the textile industry at this stage.

After the European Union issued the ban, local enterprises have protested to the EU authorities that NPE is widely used in the supply chain and is difficult to comply with.

The technical level of China's textile industry is still somewhat different from that of the European Union. Even though the new regulation provides a pitional period of 5 years, our export enterprises still have a long way to go.

The industry suggests that textile enterprises should first pay attention to the laws and regulations of safety, hygiene and environmental protection in time.

In recent years, the developed countries such as the European Union and the United States have continuously strengthened the control of harmful chemicals in consumer goods. Enterprises should pay close attention to the research developments of the European Chemicals authority and the EPA, and grasp the opportunities.

Second, we must strengthen social responsibility.

In the long run, it is an unavoidable social responsibility for enterprises to eliminate harmful substances in consumer products. Enterprises should improve their production processes, reduce harmful emissions and speed up pformation and upgrading.

Thirdly, we must strictly examine the products and check the residues of hazardous substances which are temporarily unable to be avoided for technical reasons. Enterprises should check the products to ensure that the quality of products meets the requirements of domestic and international regulations and standards, and avoid being notified or returned by foreign countries, resulting in economic losses.