The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Toine MANDERS (ADLE, NL) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on textile names and related labelling of textile products.
It recommended that the European Parliament’s position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure) should be to amend the Commission proposal as follows:
Purpose: Members specify that this Regulation lays down rules concerning the use of textile fibre names, the labelling of textile products and the determination of the fibre composition of textile products by uniform methods of quantitative analysis, with a view to improving their free circulation in the internal market and providing accurate information to consumers.
Market availability: textile products shall only be made available on the market if they are labelled or accompanied with commercial documents in compliance with the provisions of this Regulation.
Labelling: a definition of labelling has been introduced. Textile products shall be labelled whenever they are made available on the market. The labelling shall be easily accessible, visible and securely affixed to the textile product. It shall remain legible throughout the product's normal period of use. The labelling and the way in which it is affixed shall be carried out in such a way as to minimise discomfort caused to the consumer when wearing the product.
Labelling of animal-derived materials: Members consider that it is essential for consumers, in order to make informed choices, to be aware whether a textile product comprises materials derived from skin, fur or other animal-derived materials. They propose that it is therefore essential to indicate on the label the presence of animal-derived materials.
Origin marking of textile products: Members recall that in the resolution on origin marking, the European Parliament has underlined that consumer protection requires transparent and consistent trade rules, including indications of origin. The aim of such indications should be to enable consumers to be fully aware of the exact origin of the products they purchase, so as to protect them against fraudulent, inaccurate or misleading claims of origin. Harmonised rules should be put in place for that purpose in respect of textile products. As regards imported products, those rules should take the form of mandatory labelling requirements. Concerning products not subject to mandatory origin labelling at Union level, provision should be made for rules ensuring that possible claims of origin are not false or misleading.
Harmonised standards for the methods for the quantitative analysis of textile fibre mixtures (Annex VIII): in order to simplify this Regulation and adapt the uniform methods for the sampling and analysis of textile products to technical progress, the Rapporteur considers that these methods, which are used to check whether the composition of textile products is in conformity with the information supplied on the label, should be transformed into European standards. To that end, the Commission should issue a mandate to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).
Delegated acts: the committee has tabled a number of amendments with the broad aim of ensuring consistency with the New Legislative Framework and the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon on delegated acts (Article 290 of the TFEU).
Revision of the legislative framework on textile labelling: Members specify that this Regulation is limited to rules concerning the harmonisation of textile fibre names and the labelling of the fibre composition of textile products. In order to eliminate possible obstacles to the proper functioning of the internal market, caused by divergent provisions or practices of Member States, and in order to keep pace with the development of electronic commerce and future challenges in the market for textile products, the harmonisation or standardisation of other aspects of textile labelling should be examined.
With this in mind, Members call on the Commission to submit, within two years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, a report to the European Parliament and the Council regarding possible new labelling requirements to be introduced at Union level with a view to providing consumers with accurate, relevant, intelligible and comparable information on the characteristics of textile products. The report shall be based on an extended consultation of all stakeholders, consumer surveys, and a thorough cost/benefit analysis, and shall be accompanied, where appropriate, by legislative proposals. The report shall examine, inter alia, the following issues:
Health implications: by 2 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall carry out a study to assess whether substances used in the manufacture or processing of textile products may represent a hazard to human health. That study shall evaluate in particular whether there is a causal link between allergic reactions and synthetic fibres, colourings, biocides, preservatives or nanoparticles used in textile products. On the basis of the study, the Commission shall, where justified, present legislative proposals with a view to prohibiting or restricting the use of potentially hazardous substances used in textile products, in compliance with relevant EU legislation.
Report: by 3 years from the entry into force of this Regulation at the latest, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of this Regulation, with an emphasis on the requests and adoption of new fibre names and submit, where justified, a legislative proposal.