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Slovak notification on chemicals in textiles

Published March 30, 2005

Slovakia - Restricted Substances Overview

The Slovak Republic has notified the European Commission of a decree laying down the maximum allowable values for hazardous substances in textiles fibres and yarns, textile, leather and clothing products intended for direct contact with the skin. The draft decree, in the sense of Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety, provides for the protection of human health with respect to residues of organic and inorganic contaminants which might pass from textile and leather products in direct contact with skin into the human body. The results of market surveys point to a higher content of harmful substances in particular in products imported from certain Asian countries. Similar national legislation has also been adopted by other Member States, e.g. Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands. A mutual recognition clause is included in Section 6 of the draft decree.