The Textile Products (Indications of Fibre Content) Regulations 1986

Regulation 7

SCHEDULE 1

1.  The indication of the fibre content of a textile product required by Regulations 5 or 6 shall comply with the following provisions of this Schedule.

2.—(1) A name set out in Column 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 shall be used in relation to fibre of the description set out in Column 2 of that Part in relation to that name interpreted where appropriate in accordance with the provisions of Part II of that Schedule.

(2) A name so set out shall not be used in relation to any other fibre even as part of a word or phrase or adjectivally. In particular, “silk” shall not be used to indicate the form or particular presentation in continuous yarn of other textile fibres.

3.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the expressions “100 per cent.”, “pure” and “all” shall only be used in relation to a product if the product is completely composed of one fibre, and similar expressions shall not be used whether or not the product is completely composed of one fibre.

(2) The expressions specified in sub-paragraph (1) may be used in a case where other fibres are present if their presence is due to inadvertent impurities arising during manufacture of the product and not to a systematic addition thereto, and the weight of the fibres due to such reasons does not exceed 2 per cent. or, in the case of a product which has been produced by a manufacturing process in which the final formation of fibres before spinning is determined by a carding process, 5 per cent. of the weight of the product.

The said expressions may also be used when in addition to any fibres mentioned in the preceding provisions of this sub-paragraph there are other fibres present being fibres which—

(a) are intended purely to produce a decorative effect, which are visible and distinct and the weight of which does not exceed 7 per cent. of the weight of the product; or

(b) are incorporated into the product to obtain an anti-static effect and the weight of which does not exceed 2 per cent. of the weight of the product.

Provided that in the case of a product described in paragraph 5(5) below, any such percentage shall be determined separately in relation to the weight of the warp and the weight of the weft.

4.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the expressions “fleece wool” and “virgin wool” may only be used in relation to a product if the product is composed exclusively of wool fibre which has never been incorporated in a finished product nor been through any spinning or felting or spinning and felting operations other than those required by the manufacture of the product, nor any process or use which has damaged the fibre other than a process or use required by the manufacture of the product.

(2) The expressions “fleece wool” and “virgin wool” may be used to describe wool in a fibre mixture where—

(a) all the wool contained in the mixture is composed exclusively of fibre described in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph; and

(b) the weight of the wool in the mixture is not less than 25 per cent. of the weight of the mixture; and

(c) in the case of a scribbled mixture, the mixture consists only of wool and one other fibre.

(3) In the case of a mixture referred to in sub-paragraph (2) the percentage weight of each fibre in the mixture shall be given, and there shall be allowed in giving the indication of fibre content required by this sub-paragraph in relation to the fibre mixture described in sub-paragraph 2(b) only a manufacturing tolerance of 3 per cent. between the indicated and actual percentages in relation to the weight of each type of fibre of the finished product.

(4) For the purposes of the preceding provisions of this paragraph there shall be ignored—

(a) fibrous impurities in the wool not exceeding 0.3 per cent. of the weight of the product;

(b) fibres which are intended purely to produce a decorative effect, which are visible and distinct and the weight of which does not exceed 7 per cent. of the weight of the product; and

(c) fibres which are incorporated into the product to obtain an anti-static effect and the weight of which does not exceed 2 per cent. of the weight of the product.

5.—(1) The fibre content of any textile product composed of two or more fibres one of which accounts for not less than 85 per cent. of the weight of the product shall be indicated either—

(a) by the name of the latter fibre immediately preceded or followed by its percentage of the weight of the product; or

(b) by the name of the latter fibre immediately preceded or followed by “85 per cent. minimum”; or

(c) by the names of all the fibres in declining order of their proportion by weight, immediately preceded or followed by their percentages by weight of the product.

(2) The fibre content of any textile product composed of two or more fibres none of which accounts for 85 per cent. or more of the weight of the product, shall be indicated by the names of those fibres which constitute the greatest and next greatest percentage by weight of the product immediately preceded or followed by its percentage of the weight of the product and the names of the other fibres in descending order of their proportion by weight with or without the percentage by weight of those other fibres.

(3) In relation to any product to which sub-paragraph (2) applies, fibres separately accounting for less than 10 per cent. of the weight of the product may be indicated as “other fibres” if the total percentage of weight of those fibres is given.

(4) In relation to any product to which sub-paragraph (2) applies, where the name of a fibre is given and that fibre accounts for less than 10 per cent. of the weight of the product, the name of, and percentage by weight of, every fibre in the product shall be given.

(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, where a product has a pure cotton warp and a pure flax weft and the weight of the flax is not less than 40 per cent. of the weight of the unsized material the product may be indicated as “cotton linen union” accompanied by “pure cotton warp—pure flax weft” or “pure cotton warp—pure linen weft”.

(6) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (8) below—

(a) in giving, as part of an indication of fibre content required by the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, any percentage in respect of a fibre or fibres, the indicated percentage may differ from the actual percentage in respect thereof by not more than 3 per cent. calculated on the total weight of textile fibres in the finished product on which the indicated percentage was calculated; and

(b) there shall be allowed in relation to any product to which sub-paragraph (2) above applies, in determining the order in which fibres, other than those fibres which constitute the greatest and next greatest percentage by weight of the product, are listed when their percentage by weight is not indicated, a tolerance of 3 per cent.

(7) For the purposes of the preceding provisions of this paragraph there shall be ignored—

(a) fibres which are present in the product if their presence is due to inadvertent impurities arising during manufacture of the product and not to a systematic addition thereto, and the weight of the fibres due to such reasons does not exceed 2 per cent. or, in the case of a product which has been produced by a manufacturing process in which the final formation of fibres before spinning is determined by a carding process, 5 per cent. of the weight of the product;

(b) fibres which are intended purely to produce a decorative effect, which are visible and distinct and the weight of which does not exceed 7 per cent. of the weight of the product; and

(c) fibres which are incorporated into the product to obtain an anti-static effect and the weight of which does not exceed 2 per cent. of the weight of the product:

Provided that in the case of a product described in paragraph 5(5) above, any percentage referred to in (b) or (c) above shall be determined separately in relation to the weight of the warp and the weight of the weft.

(8) The addition of the tolerances referred to in sub-paragraph (6) above and sub-paragraph (7)(a) above shall be allowed only if any inadvertent impurities which are to be left out of account under sub-paragraph (7)(a) above are of the same chemical type as any of the fibres named in the indication of fibre content.

6.  The expressions “mixed fibres” and “unspecified textile composition” may be used in relation to any product or part of any product whose fibre content is difficult to determine at the time of manufacture.

7.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, in determining the fibre percentage of a product there shall be left out of account—

(a) non-textile parts, selvedges, labels and badges, edgings and trimmings which are not an integral part of the product, buttons and buckles which are covered with textile materials, accessories, decorations, non-elastic ribbons, elastic threads and band which are added at specific and limited points of the product and fibres which—

(i) are intended purely to produce a decorative effect, which are visible and distinct, and the weight of which does not exceed 7 per cent. of the weight of the product; or

(ii) are incorporated into the product to obtain an anti-static effect and the weight of which does not exceed 2 per cent. of the weight of the product:

Provided that in the case of a product described in paragraph 5(5) above, any such percentage referred to in (i) or (ii) above shall be determined separately in relation to the weight of the warp and the weight of the weft;

(b) in the case of floor-coverings and carpets, all components other than the use-surface;

(c) in the case of upholstery fabrics, binding and filling warps and wefts which do not form part of the use-surface;

(d) in the case of fabrics for hangings and curtains, binding and filling warps and wefts which do not form part of the right side of the fabric;

(e) in the case of textile products other than those referred to in (b), (c) and (d) above, base or underlying fabrics, stiffenings and reinforcements, interlinings and canvas backings, stitching and assembly threads which do not replace the warp or weft of the fabric, fillings which do not have an insulating function and (except where the fibre percentage of the main lining itself is being determined), linings;

(f) fatty substances, binders, weightings, sizings and dressings, impregnating products, additional dyeing and printing products and other textile processing products.

In this sub-paragraph “stiffenings and reinforcements” means the yarns or materials added at specified and limited points of the textile product to strengthen it or give it stiffness or thickness.

(2) The base material of textile products which serves as a backing for the use-surface shall not be left out of account in determining the fibre percentage of a product.

(3) In determining the fibre percentages of a product there shall be applied to the anhydrous mass of each fibre the relevant agreed allowance set out in Schedule 3.

8.—(1) Any indication of fibre content shall be clear and legible and in uniform lettering and shall be separate and distinct from all other information except that—

(a) a trade mark or name of an undertaking may immediately precede or follow the indication of fibre content;

(b) where a supply or offer is one to which the requirements contained in paragraph (2) of Regulation 5 apply and a trade mark or name of an undertaking is applied to the product which contains on its own, or as an adjective or as a root one of the names specified in Schedule 2, or a name which is likely to be taken for a name so specified the trade mark or name must be immediately preceded or followed by the indication of fibre content.

(2) In the case of:—

(a) a supply or offer to which the said paragraph (2) applies, or

(b) any advertisement to which paragraph (1) of Regulation 6 applies,

the indication of fibre content shall be given in the English language whether or not it is given in some other language. Bobbins, reels, skeins, balls and any other small quantity of sewing, mending and embroidery yarn may bear an indication of fibre content in any of the languages of the European Economic Community, but if the indication of fibre content is given on packaging containing, or a display bearing, a number of such items, then that latter indication shall be in English.

(3) For the purposes of giving an indication of fibre content abbreviations may be used, but only if the abbreviation is used in a commercial document and consists of a mechanical processing code and then only if an explanation of the code is given in the same document.

Paragraph 2, Schedule 1

SCHEDULE 2

PART I TEXTILE FIBRES

	Column 1	Column 2
Nos.	Name	Fibre Description
1	wool	fibre from sheep's or lambs' fleeces (Ovisaries) or a mixture of such fibres and the hair of any animal mentioned under 2
2	alpaca, llama, camel, cashmere, mohair, angora, vicuna, yak, guanaco, beaver, otter, followed or not by the name `wool' or `hair'	hair of the following animals: alpaca, llama, camel, cashmere goat, angora goat, angora rabbit, vicuna, yak, guanaco, beaver, otter
3	animal or horsehair, with or without an indication of the kind of animal (e.g. cattle hair, common goat hair, horsehair)	hair of the various animals not mentioned under 1 or 2
4	silk	fibre obtained exclusively from silk-secreting insects
5	cotton	fibre obtained from the bolls of the cotton plant (Gossypium)
6	kapok	fibre obtained from the inside of the kapok fruit (Ceiba pentandra)
7	flax or linen	fibre obtained from the bast of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum)
8	hemp	fibre obtained from the bast of hemp (Cannabis sativa)
9	jute	fibre obtained from the bast of Corchorus olitorius, Corchorus capsularis, Hibiscus cannabinus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Abultilon avicennae, Urena lobata, Urena sinuata
10	abaca	fibre obtained from the sheathing leaf of Musa textilis
11	alfa	fibre obtained from the leaves of Stipa tenacissima
12	coir	fibre obtained from the fruit of Cocos nucifera
13	broom	fibre obtained from the bast of Cytisus scoparius and/or Spartium Junceum
15	ramie	fibre obtained from the bast of Boehmeria nivea and Boehmeria tenacissima
16	sisal	fibre obtained from the leaves of agave sisalana
16a	sunn	fibre from the bast of Crotalaria juncea
16b	henequen	fibre from the bast of Agave Fourcroydes
16c	maguey	fibre from the bast of Agave Cantala
17	acetate	cellulose acetate fibre wherein less than 92% but at least 74% of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated
18	alginate	fibre obtained from metallic salts of alginic acid
19	cupro	regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by the cuprammonium process
20	modal	a fibre of regenerated cellulose having a high breaking force and high wet modulus. The breaking force (Bc) in the conditioned state and the force (BM) required to produce an elongation of 5% in the wet state are:
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where T is the mean linear density in decitex
21	protein	fibre obtained from natural protein substances regenerated and stablised through the action of chemical agents
22	triacetate	cellulose acetate fibre wherein at least 92% of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated
23	viscose	regenerated cellulose fibre obtained by the viscose process for filament and discontinuous fibre
24	acrylic	fibre formed of linear macromolecules comprising at least 85% (by mass) in the chain of the acrylonitrilic pattern
25	chlorofibre	fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in their chain more than 50% (by mass) of chlorinated vinyl or chlorinated vinylidene monomeric units
26	fluorofibre	fibre formed of linear macromolecules made from fluorocarbon aliphatic monomers
27	modacrylic	fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in the chain more than 50% and less than 85% (by mass) of the acrylonitrilic pattern
28	polyamide or nylon	fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in the chain the recurring amide functional group
29	polyester	fibre formed of linear macromolecules comprising at least 85% (by mass) in the chain of an ester of a diol and terephthalic acid
30	polyethylene	fibre formed of un-substituted aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon linear macromolecules
31	polypropylene	fibre formed of an aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon linear macromolecule where one carbon atom in two carries a methyl side chain in an isotactic disposition and without further substitution
32	polycarbamide	fibre formed of linear macromolecules having in the chain the recurring ureylene (NH-CO-NH) functional group
33	polyurethane	fibre formed of linear macromolecules composed of chains with the recurring urethane functional group
34	vinylal	fibre formed of linear macromolecules whose chain is constituted by polyvinyl alcohol with differing levels of acetalisation
35	trivinyl	fibre formed of acrylonitrile terpolymer, a chlorinated vinyl monomer and a third vinyl monomer, none of which represents as much as 50% of the total mass
36	elastodiene	elastofibre composed of natural or synthetic polyisoprene, or composed of one or more dienes polymerised with or without one or more vinyl monomers, and which, when stretched to three times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length
37	elastane	elastofibre composed of at least 85% (by mass) of a segmented polyurethane, and which, when stretched to three times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length
38	glass fibre	fibre made of glass
39	name corresponding to the material of which the fibres are composed, e.g. metal (metallic, metallised), asbestos, paper, followed or not by the word `yarn' or `fibre'	fibres obtained from miscellaneous or new materials not listed above

PART II

A name in column 1 of item 2 of Part I shall not be used in relation to a mixture of the fibre of sheep's and lambs' fleeces and the hair of any of the animals specified in column 2 of that item unless the indication of fibre content of the mixture complies with paragraph 5 of Schedule 1.

Paragraph 7(3), Schedule 1

SCHEDULE 3 AGREED ALLOWANCES TO BE APPLIED IN DETERMINING THE FIBRE PERCENTAGES OF A TEXTILE PRODUCT

Fibre No. in Schedule 2	Fibres	Percentages
1–2	Wool and animal hair:
	combined fibres	18.25
	carded fibres	17.00
3	Animal hair:
	combed fibres	18.25
	carded fibres	17.00
	Horsehair:
	combed fibres	16.00
	carded fibres	15.00
4	Silk	11.00
5	Cotton:
	normal fibres	8.50
	mercerised fibres	10.50
6	Kapok	10.90
7	Flax or linen	12.00
8	Hemp	12.00
9	Jute	17.00
10	Abaca	14.00
11	Alfa	14.00
12	Coir	13.00
13	Broom	14.00
15	Ramie (bleached fibre)	8.50
16	Sisal	14.00
16a	Sunn	12.00
16b	Henequen	14.00
16c	Maguey	14.00
17	Acetate	9.00
18	Alginate	20.00
19	Cupro	13.00
20	Modal	13.00
21	Protein	17.00
22	Triacetate	7.00
23	Viscose	13.00
24	Acrylic	2.00
25	Chlorofibre	2.00
26	Fluorofibre	0.00
27	Modacrylic	2.00
28	Polyamide or Nylon (6–6):
	discontinuous fibre	6.25
	filament	5.75
	Polyamide or Nylon 6:
	discontinuous fibre	6.25
	filament	5.75
	Polyamide or Nylon 11:
	discontinuous fibre	3.50
	filament	3.50
29	Polyester:
	discontinuous fibre	1.50
	filament	1.50
30	Polyethylene	1.50
31	Polypropylene	2.00
32	Polycarbamide	2.00
33	Polyurethane:
	discontinuous fibre	3.50
	filament	3.00
34	Vinylal	5.00
35	Trivinyl	3.00
36	Elastodiene	1.00
37	Elastane	1.50
38	Glass fibre:
	filament with a diameter of over 5 microns	2.00
	filament with a diameter of 5 microns or less	3.00
39	Metal fibre	2.00
	Metallised fibre	2.00
	Asbestos	2.00
	Paper yarn	13.75

Regulation 8

SCHEDULE 4

Products which are not (except as provided in Regulation 8) subject to compulsory labelling or marking.

1.  sleeve-supporting arm-bands

2.  watch straps of textile materials

3.  labels and badges

4.  stuffed pan-holders of textile materials

5.  tea cosies

6.  coffee cosies

7.  sleeve protectors

8.  muffs other than in pile fabric

9.  artificial flowers

10.  pin cushions

11.  painted canvas

12.  textile products for base and underlying fabrics and stiffenings

13.  felts

14.  old made up textile products, where explicitly stated to be such

15.  gaiters

17.  packagings, not new and sold as such

18.  felt hats

19.  purses, pouches, cases, bags and saddlery, of textile materials

20.  travel goods of textile materials

21.  hand-embroidered tapestries, finished or unfinished, and materials for their production, including embroidery yarns, sold separately from the canvas and specially presented for use in such tapestries

22.  slide fasteners

23.  buttons and buckles covered with textile materials

24.  book covers of textile materials

25.  toys

26.  textile parts of footwear, excepting warm linings

27.  table mats having several components and a surface area of not more than 500 cm²

28.  oven gloves and cloths

29.  egg cosies

30.  make-up cases

31.  tobacco pouches of textile fabric

32.  spectacle, cigarette and cigar, lighter and comb cases of textile fabric

33.  protective requisites for sports with the exception of gloves

34.  toilet cases

35.  shoe-cleaning cases

36.  funeral items

37.  disposable articles (including textile articles designed to be used once only or for a limited time, the normal use of which precludes any restoring for subsequent use for the same or a similar purpose) with the exception of wadding

38.  textile articles subject to the rules in force from time to time of the European Pharmacopoeia and covered by a reference to those rules, non-disposable bandages for medical and orthopaedic use and orthopaedic textile articles in general

39.  textile articles including cordage, ropes and string (other than articles included in Item 12 of Schedule 5) normally intended:

(a) for use as equipment components in the manufacture and processing of goods;

(b) for incorporation in machines, installations (e.g. for heating, air conditioning or lighting), domestic and other appliances, vehicles and other means of transport, or for their operation, maintenance or equipment, other than tarpaulin covers and textile motor vehicle accessories sold separately from the vehicle

40.  textile articles for protection and safety purposes such as safety belts, parachutes, lifejackets, emergency chutes, fire-fighting devices, bulletproof waistcoats and special protective garments (e.g. protection against fire, chemical substances or other safety hazards)

41.  air-supported structures (e.g. sports halls, exhibition stands or storage facilities), provided that particulars of the performances and technical specifications of these articles are supplied

42.  sails

43.  animal clothing

44.  flags and banners

Regulation 5(12)

SCHEDULE 5

Products in the case of which an indication of fibre content may relate to a number of products of the same type and composition.

1.  floorcloths

2.  cleaning cloths

3.  edgings and trimmings

4.  passementerie

5.  belts

6.  braces

7.  suspenders and garters

8.  shoe and boot laces

9.  ribbons

10.  elastic

11.  new packagings sold as such

12.  packing string and agricultural twine; string, cordage and ropes (other than articles included in Item 39 of Schedule 4), including cordage and ropes intended for use in mountaineering or watersports

13.  table mats

14.  handkerchiefs

15.  bun nets and hair nets

16.  ties and bow ties for children

17.  bibs, washgloves and face flannels

18.  sewing, mending and embroidery yarns presented for retail sale in small quantities with a net weight of 1 gram or less

19.  tape for curtains, blinds and shutters.