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Oeko-Tex certification for feather & down filled products

22
Oct '08

Basically all feathers and down just like other ingredients
of textile end products can be certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

The scope of inspection depends on the properties and condition of the checked material as well as its intended purpose. This is general practice for all Oeko-Tex lab tests. For example, undyed textiles do not require tests for objectionable dyestuffs.

And articles for babies and toddlers (product class I) must comply with stricter requirements than decorative textiles (product class IV). Accordingly, feathers and down are only tested in regards to the Oeko-Tex criteria that are relevant for this product group.

These include: pH-value, formaldehyde, heavy metals, pesticides, phenols, organic tin compounds as well as an odor test. However, different proveniences (i.e. eastern European, Canadian etc.) have to be tested separately.

The financial cost of Oeko-Tex certification is made up of a licensing fee as well as the testing fee (depending on the complexity of the tests involved). For feather-filled, respectively down-filled bedding like pillows or duvet covers the following Oeko-Tex certifications are possible:

- Feathers and down; with or without quality specifications (i.e. white, class I etc.)
- Casings white or dyed in various fabric qualities (cotton, cotton/polyester etc.)
- Ready-made bedding, filled with feathers and down

The declaration of Oeko-Tex certified bedding with placement of the label “Confidence in Textiles” on the outside of the casing is only possible if all ingredients (filling, casing, accessories like zippers etc.) have been successfully tested and certified.

If, for example, only the casing has been certified, the Oeko-Tex label has to be affixed on the inside of the casing to avoid consumer deception. The following requirements must be complied with for the certification of feathers and down according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100:

- A completely filled in and signed original application, to include the declaration of conformity and representative samples.
- A successful test confirmed by a test report to the company and/or
- Submission of copies of valid Oeko-Tex certificates for ingredients which have already been tested.

An Oeko-Tex certificate is valid for a period of 12 months and can be renewed any number of times. Each time an application for renewal is submitted or when the composition of the material changes, new representative samples are to be submitted for lab tests.

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