EU Textile Labelling Requirements
The European Union has some of the strictest and most detailed labelling requirements for textiles anywhere in the world. Whether you manufacture apparel, home textiles, accessories, or mixed-material products, compliance with Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 is mandatory before placing products on the EU market.
This guide explains everything you need to know about EU textile labelling requirements, with practical interpretations drawn directly from the legal text and the European Commission’s published FAQs. It focuses entirely on textile-specific labelling obligations, not broader product safety rules.
1. What the EU Textile Regulation Covers
Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 governs:
- The names of textile fibres
- The labelling and marking of fibre composition
- The durability and placement of mandatory information
- Rules for products containing non-textile parts of animal origin
The Regulation applies to all textile products made available on the EU market, including those incorporated into other goods where composition must be declared. Products containing at least 80 percent textile fibres are considered textile products for the purposes of the Regulation.
2. Mandatory Textile Labelling: The Core Requirements
2.1 Fibre Composition Must Always Be Declared
Every textile product must carry a label or marking indicating its exact fibre composition, expressed using the fibre names listed in Annex I of the Regulation. Fibre composition plays a central role in technical file documentation and traceability.
Examples:
- “100 percent cotton”
- “80 percent polyester, 20 percent viscose”
- “Other fibres 10 percent” (allowed only under specific conditions)
2.2 The Label Must Be Permanent
One of the most important legal obligations is durability. The law states:
“Labels and markings must be durable, easily legible, visible and accessible and, in the case of a label, securely attached.” (Article 14(1))
This requirement eliminates the possibility of using a removable swing tag as the primary location for fibre composition. Swing tags can supplement information but cannot replace the permanent label. Permanent fibre composition is often reviewed as part of a GPSR risk analysis.
2.3 What Counts as a “Label” vs. a “Marking”?
The Regulation defines these terms clearly:
-
Label: A piece of material (woven, printed, heat-seal, etc.) securely attached to the product so that it remains with the product through normal use.
- Marking: Information printed, stamped, embroidered, or otherwise permanently applied onto the product itself.
Either option is acceptable so long as the requirement for durability and permanence is met. Correct use of terms is important for ensuring EU Responsible Person compliance.
3. Placement Hierarchy: Where Information Must Appear
Although the EU Textile Regulation does not formally define a “placement hierarchy,” the rules create a clear practical order:
1. On the Product (Mandatory for Fibre Composition)
Composition must appear directly on the product via a permanent label or marking. Swing tags do not qualify because they are meant to be removed.
2. Packaging (Optional Supplement)
Packaging may repeat the fibre composition but cannot replace the permanent product label.
3. Accompanying Documents (B2B Only)
Article 14(2) allows composition to appear in commercial documents only within the supply chain. This does not apply to consumer sales.
Conclusion: Fibre composition must always appear on the garment itself, not only on packaging or swing tags.
4. Language Requirements
When a textile product reaches consumers, the fibre composition must be shown in the official language(s) of the Member State where the product is sold. Translation requirements often intersect with EU consumer product compliance rules.
This means brands selling across multiple EU markets typically provide multilingual labels or add a small secondary label containing translated fibre content.
5. Additional Labelling Requirements
5.1 Non-Textile Parts of Animal Origin
Products containing leather, fur, feathers, or similar materials must include:
“Contains non-textile parts of animal origin” (Article 12)
This must be permanently labelled and clear to the consumer.
5.2 Multi-Component Products
Where sleeves, linings, or decorative panels have different fibre compositions, Article 11 requires each component to be labelled unless:
- It is not a main lining, and
- It represents less than 30 percent of the total weight.
Correct fibre identification is also important when preparing a GPSR technical file.
5.3 Products That Do Not Require Fibre Labelling
Annex V lists categories such as:
- Watch straps
- Toys
- Textile parts of footwear
- Small textile accessories
- Travel goods
These are exempt from composition labelling.
6. What the Textile Regulation Does Not Require
A key clarification from the European Commission FAQ is that the Regulation does not mandate:
- Country of origin
- Care instructions
- Safety warnings (flammability, choking, etc.)
- Manufacturer or importer details
- Environmental or sustainability statements
Such requirements fall under other EU laws, not the Textile Regulation. These topics are covered separately in areas like product categorisation, chemical testing, and SDS documentation.
7. Swing Tags: What They Can and Cannot Be Used For
Swing tags are allowed to contain:
- Marketing information
- Care instructions
- Safety warnings
- Sustainability messages
- Additional fibre details
However, they cannot serve as the primary location for mandatory fibre composition because they are removable and not durable.
This interpretation follows directly from Article 14(1), which requires information to be durable, visible, accessible, and securely attached. These durability principles also align with best practices for appointing an EU Responsible Person responsible for product information integrity.
In practice, market surveillance authorities consistently treat swing tags as non-permanent elements.
8. How to Ensure Compliance: Best Practices for Brands
A compliant EU textile label should:
- Use fibre names from Annex I
- Show exact percentages in descending order
- Be permanently attached or permanently marked
- Be legible and visible before purchase
- Be translated as needed for each Member State
- Identify non-textile parts of animal origin
- Declare multi-component compositions correctly
Recommended label structure:
- Fibre composition (mandatory)
- Care instructions (industry standard, though not required by EU law)
- Size
- Country of origin (optional under textile rules)
- Branding and batch codes
These practices also support compliance when preparing GPSR technical documentation, ensuring a smooth route to selling products in the EU.
9. Key Takeaways
- Fibre composition must always be on a permanent label or marking on the product.
- Swing tags cannot replace mandatory textile composition labels.
- The EU Textile Regulation is entirely focused on fibre composition and textile terminology.
- Language translations are required for every EU Member State where the product is sold.
- Safety warnings and care labels are outside the scope of the Textile Regulation. See GPSR warning examples.
- B2B documents may carry composition during supply chain transit, but not for consumer sales.
Understanding these points also reduces the risk of non-compliance penalties or supply chain disruption.
10. Why Compliance Matters
Noncompliant labels can lead to:
- Product withdrawals
- Fines from national market surveillance authorities
- Re-labelling at cost
- Supply chain delays
- Loss of consumer confidence
Understanding and correctly applying Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 is essential for any brand selling textiles in the European Union. Compliance also supports broader safety obligations under the EU product safety framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do textile labels in the EU need to include care instructions?
No. Care instructions are not required by the Textile Regulation. They are industry standard but voluntary. Other EU laws also do not mandate care labels.
Can fibre composition be listed only on a swing tag?
No. Swing tags are removable and therefore not considered durable. Fibre composition must appear on a permanent label or marking that stays with the product.
Are translations required for fibre composition?
Yes. The composition must be available in the official language(s) of the EU Member State where the product is sold.
Can the fibre composition be placed on packaging instead of on the product?
No. Packaging may repeat information but cannot replace the permanent fibre composition label on the product itself.
Do I need to label each part of a multi-component textile product?
Yes, unless the component is not a main lining and represents less than 30 percent of the total weight.
Do textile labels need to include country of origin?
No. Country of origin is not required under the Textile Regulation, though it may be required under customs or consumer information rules depending on market practices.
Are safety warnings part of the Textile Regulation?
No. Safety and flammability warnings fall under other EU legislation such as the General Product Safety Regulation, not the Textile Regulation.
Official EU Reference Sources
- Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products: EUR-Lex CELEX 32011R1007
- European Commission Guidance Document: Frequently Asked Questions on Regulation (EU) 1007/2011: EC FAQ on Textile Labelling
- EU Product Safety and Market Surveillance rules: European Commission Product Safety Portal