One of the most important considerations when designing children’s wear is product safety, presenting an extra challenge to brands looking for international expansion.
Jonty Wilson, of product safety firm SGS United Kingdom, says that safety standards and risk assessments vary widely between key markets like China, the US and Russia.
Wilson, UK softlines manager for the company, was speaking at children’s wear seminar organised by industry body ASBCI last week.
“There is a lot of commercial pressure to enter new retail markets but you need to be prepared and be aware of all the legal requirements,” he said.
Here is a snapshot of SGS’ guidelines for selling children’s fashion in three global marketplaces:
China
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By GlobalDataTextiles and clothing sold in China must pass both national and textile industry standards. These testing standards are denoted as GB and FZ.
Meanwhile, garments also require certification including CMA, CNAS and ILAC MRA. Children’s wear is also a category A product when in comes to GB 18401-2003, the China National General Safety Standard for Textile Products.
Together with certification, textile hangtags in China should include information including the manufacturer’s name and address, product name and fibre name, SGS said.
US
Selling clothing in the US is governed by the nation’s Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This includes bans on lead and pthalates, and third party testing for children’s products.
Children’s products require a general conformity certificate outlining each paint used by colour, location or other specification. Also, each component of the product should be traceable to the manufacturer.
SGS added that CPSC advises to follow Federal Care Labeling rules when it comes to socks, which says they are not required to attach labels to each item.
Russia
In order to clear customs, garments entering Russia require a GOST R Certificate of Conformity.
Items like children’s clothing also require a Sanitary-Epidemiological Conclusion, SGS said, which can only be issued in the country. Certification in Russia often requires supervision by the Russian State Hygiene Authority and Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology.
Labelling in the country, meanwhile, should include the name and address of the manufacturer, description of the product and date it was made.
