On 1 June 2007, the European regulation on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACh) came into force. We spoke to Dr. Rainer Weckmann, Director of the department of Materials Testing at the Hohenstein Institutes about the effects of REACh on the around 6,000 companies who currently have their products tested and certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 around the world.

Dr. Weckmann, the Oeko-Tex Standard was founded in 1992 ? what developments have there been since then?
Dr. Weckmann: Over the past 15 years, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 has developed into an internationally recognised brand label which is much valued amongst consumers and which enjoys a high level of acceptance.

The label “Confidence in textiles ? Tested for harmful substances according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100” guarantees consumers that a textile product has been tested and certified as safe in terms of human ecology and offers a high degree of product safety.

The limit values for the individual harmful substances are more stringent than statutory regulations and are based on the latest scientific findings. The Oeko-Tex test label indicates to the user/consumer that the textile is safe in terms of human ecology.

How do the objectives of REACh compare to this?
REACh is a regulation relating to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of chemicals, which are referred to as substances in REACh jargon. This applies to raw materials, individual substances and basic substances as well as their preparations or mixtures.

The objective of REACh is to protect man and the environment better than previously against potential risks when handling chemicals. REACh does not define individual limit values for substances in end products, however, and therefore does not provide specifications for their safety in use.

So the question of product safety is not touched on by REACh?
No, because the area of product safety is already covered by special laws which come under the European Equipment and Product Safety Act.

They govern product safety in detail, and cover the textile industry. The obligations of manufacturers and importers as per the blanket clause § 30 LFGB (Food, Commodities and Feed Code), and the bans on substances such as AZO and nickel remain unaffected by REACh.

In contrast, what role does the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 play in product safety?
Amongst other things, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 monitors compliance with the bans mentioned above. REACh is not in a position to monitor this. Under REACh, up to 1,000 ppm of a specific substance may be present in an article before there is a requirement for regulation ? under Oeko-Tex, the limit values for specific harmful substances are significantly more stringent.

There are also additional criteria such as fastness and a skin-neutral pH value which are not covered at all under REACh, as these are not associated with individual substances.