The EU is updating its rules on how textile products are labelled. The EU Textile Labelling Regulation (1007/2011) is currently being evaluated and will be revised. This is done to reflect new requirements from other EU laws, such as the ESPR and to address the different labelling requirements developed by EU member states.
The revision aims to make textile labelling standardized in all EU countries and to reduce complexity for traders and consumers.
The current Textile Labeling Regulation (TLR) requires clear labelling of fibre content and animal-derived parts. This has been in place since 2011.
However in recent years, there has been a surge in EU regulations aimed at increasing textile sustainability. These new regulations — combined with additional labelling requirements implemented by individual EU countries — have created inconsistencies and complexities for businesses and consumers alike.
Companies must navigate different labelling requirements in each country to sell their products throughout the EU, which drives up costs. Additionally, current labels often fall short in providing essential information about product origin, materials, and environmental impact, hindering consumers' ability to make informed choices about sustainable and ethical textiles.
To address these challenges, the Textile Labeling Regulation (TLR) is being revised. The aim of this revision is:
The revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation (TLR) will likely continue to cover textile products with at least 80% textile fibres. Footwear is being excluded from the revision as labelling rules for footwear are not considered in the TLR.
The revision of the TLR is currently in its pre-proposal phase, meaning that the changes are not finalized yet. However, this is currently being considered:
The ESPR regulation requires products to be accompanied by a digital product passport (DPP), which contains information about a product's sustainability and circularity aspects. As the DPP contains too much information to present on the label, the commission is considering specifications for physical and digital labelling.
The label should look good and be easy to understand so that consumers can quickly read and compare their products. Considered are:
Taking into account what rules are fair and manageable for businesses, especially smaller ones (SMEs).
The EU Commission is set to review the current TLR in Q4 of 2024. Their proposed changes are anticipated in early 2025, when they will formally present their proposal for the revision. This proposal then has to get approval from the EU Parliament and EU Council (a process estimated to take 18 months), with entry into force expected mid 2026. Then traders will likely have time to prepare for the requirements and are not expected to comply before 2027.
Note: This table includes both past and upcoming deadlines. Upcoming dates that are shaded indicate the expected timeline, but these are subject to change. Please refer to EU Parliament resources for any changes.
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