In November 2023, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published a new draft European standard prEN 17681-1:2023 for the determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) content in textile materials. Compared to the current 2022 version, the new draft standard includes an additional step of alkaline hydrolysis of the test sample.

If a textile material contains a fluorinated polymer, which is not stable to alkaline hydrolysis, then there is the possibility that certain PFAS substances that are regulated by the EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and the EU POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 may be released and found detected.

Currently, the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) has republished the draft European standard as a draft German standard DIN EN 17681-1:2023-12 (Entwurf). The German Cooperation for Assuring Defined Standards for Shoe- and Leather Goods Production e.V. (CADS) highly recommends the use of the draft European standard for the testing of textile and leather components. Some German third-party assessment organizations have also used this test method for PFAS in the textile components of children's products (e.g., seat covers and sun canopies).

Intertek advises EU/EEA suppliers of children's products and textile products, especially German importers of children's products and textile products, to monitor the publication process of the draft European standard, evaluate how to effectively control PFAS content in the products, and make appropriate preparations and deployments to cater for buyers' requirements and the needs of consumer groups.

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