February 10, 2016
The European Commission (EC) has officially published Commission Regulation 2016/26, restricting nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) in textile articles.
The regulation specifies NPE shall not be placed on the market after February 3, 2021 in textile articles which can reasonably be expected to be washed in water during their normal life cycle, in concentrations equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight of that textile article or of each part of the textile article.
“Textile article” is defined as “any unfinished, semi-finished or finished product which is composed of at least 80 % textile fibers by weight, or any other product that contains a part which is composed of at least 80 % textile fibers by weight, including products such as clothing, accessories, interior textiles, fibers, yarn, fabrics and knitted panels”.
The regulation will enter into force February 2, 2016.
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