AAFA releases 17th edition of Restricted Substances List (RSL)

On 7 April 2016, the American Apparel & Footwear Association today released the 17th edition of the Restricted Substance List (RSL), the industry's chemical management resource for banned or restricted chemicals and substances in finished home textile, apparel, and footwear products around the world.

The 17th edition of the RSL covers 12 chemical categories with more than 250 chemicals and is updated to reflect additions or changes to regulations and laws that restrict or ban certain chemicals in apparel, footwear, and finished home textile products. Compared with the 16th edition, the major changes to the new edition are as the following:
1. Updated on test method for aromatic amines;
2. Adding SCCPs restrictions in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2030 to amend European Union POPs Regulation (EC) No. 850/2004;
3., Adding requirement for total Lead (500 ppm) and rate of lead release of Lead (≤0.05μg/cm²/h or 0.05 μg/g/h) in accordance with lead restriction set forth in Annex XVII to REACH Regulation
4. Inclusion of the test method for formaldehyde in leather set forth in GB/T 19941-2005;
5. Inclusion of SVHC identification for a phthalate: 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C6-10-alkyl esters; 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mixed decyl and hexyl and octyl diesters with ≥ 0.3% of dihexyl phthalate (EC No. 201-559-5, CAS No. 68515-51-5,68648-93-1).

Besides, the new RSL has deleted many entries, and also amended or rearranged the contents in Appendixes I, II and III. The current edition only contains Appendix I (regulations which have a reporting requirement that are not necessarily otherwise listed in the RSL.) and Appendix II (regulations which have a labeling requirement that are not necessarily otherwise listed in the RSL).

It is noted that the lead restriction as mentioned in point 3 applicable to products which are supplied to the general public and can be placed in the mouth by children will apply from 1 June 2016.

This RSL was developed to serve as a practical tool to help those individuals in textile, apparel and footwear companies, and their suppliers, responsible for environmental compliance throughout the supply chain, to become more aware of various national and international regulations governing the amount of substances that are permitted in finished home textile, apparel and footwear products.