China's Shaoxing textile firms should pay attention to ECA

28 Aug '13

2 min read

Textile printing and dyeing enterprises in China’s Shaoxing County should pay close attention to the standards framed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECA), according to experts.

Nonylphenol is widely used as a surfactant in textile dyeing, washing and other processes by enterprises in Shaoxing County that export to EU countries.

Recently, Sweden has submitted a proposal to the ECA for applying new restrictions on nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) under Annex XVII of REACH proposal, the most authoritative of the EU chemicals regulations related to environmental standards.

In 2012, Germany had proposed inclusion of nonylphenol in REACH SVHC list, mentioning it as a serious harm to the environment.

The latest proposal submitted by Sweden restricts the use of nonylphenol in garments, textile accessories and interior textiles. It states that the content of NP and NPE or mixtures thereof should not be equal to or greater than 0.1 percent in these items.

There is evidence that nonylphenol results in endocrine disruptions and accumulates the aquatic environment toxicity, even at very low concentrations of this substance emissions, which is very harmful.

Nonylphenol ethoxylates, once released into the environment, quickly break down into nonylphenol.

According to experts, once the Swedish proposal is approved, it would force textile printing and dyeing enterprises in Shaoxing County to become more environment-friendly.

According to the County Bureau of Commerce, 90 percent or more of the total exports from the county are textiles.

So, textile enterprises in Shaoxing County should pay close attention to ECA standards, and actively explore the development of more environmentally sound production processes and avoid using environment pollution causing substances that are restricted or banned by the developed countries.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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