Key takeaways
- Only the fibre names in Annex I may be used, such as cotton, flax (or linen), jute, coir, wool, silk, viscose and polyester; trade terms like “bamboo” are not fibre names.
- All fibres must be listed with their percentage by weight in descending order; “100%”, “pure” or “all” only for products made of one fibre.
- Products with non-textile parts of animal origin, such as leather trims or bone buttons, must state “Contains non-textile parts of animal origin”.
- The label must be durable, legible, securely attached and in the official language of each country where the product is sold to consumers.
- An inspection checks label presence, wording, languages and attachment; actual fibre content needs a lab analysis.
Which products are covered
Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling has applied since 8 May 2012. A textile product may only be made available in the EU if it is labelled, marked or accompanied by commercial documents in line with the Regulation (Article 4). It covers textile products made only of textile fibres, and Article 2(2) treats these the same way:
- products containing at least 80% textile fibres by weight;
- furniture, umbrella and sunshade coverings with at least 80% textile components by weight;
- the textile parts of the upper layer of multi-layer floor coverings, mattress coverings and camping goods coverings, where they are at least 80% of that layer or covering; and
- textiles built into other products, where their composition is stated.
Annex V lists products for which a fibre label is not mandatory, such as tea cosies, oven gloves, table mats with several components and a surface of no more than 500 cm², toys and travel goods of textile materials. Annex VI lets some items of the same type and composition share one inclusive label, and textiles sold by the metre may be labelled on the roll (Article 17).
What the label must say
| Rule | Requirement | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre names | Only names from Annex I, used only for fibres that match the Annex I description | 5 |
| Percentages | Name and percentage by weight of every fibre, in descending order | 9(1) |
| “100%”, “pure”, “all” | Only for products of one fibre; up to 2% extraneous fibres allowed if technically unavoidable (5% after carding) | 7 |
| “Other fibres” | Allowed for one fibre up to 5%, or several up to 15% in total, where they cannot easily be stated at manufacture | 9(2) |
| Decorative and antistatic fibres | Visible decorative fibres up to 7% and antistatic fibres up to 2% of product weight need not be counted | 10 |
| Several components | Fibre content of each component with a different composition; not needed for components that are not main linings and are under 30% of total weight | 11 |
| Animal-origin parts | The phrase “Contains non-textile parts of animal origin” | 12 |
| Form | Durable, easily legible, visible and accessible; labels securely attached; uniform print, shown to consumers before purchase, including online | 14, 16(1) |
| Language | The official language or languages of the country where the product is sold to consumers, unless that country provides otherwise | 16(3) |
| Tolerance | 3% manufacturing tolerance between the label and lab analysis, on total fibre weight | 20(3) |
Between businesses, labels may be replaced or supplemented by commercial documents, but the consumer product must be labelled when it reaches the shop. When the manufacturer is outside the EU, the importer is responsible for the label and its accuracy (Article 15).
What is not required, and the pending revision
The Regulation covers fibre composition only. It does not require care instructions, sizes or country of origin. Care symbols are widely used on a voluntary basis, through the GINETEX system and ISO 3758. Buyers often make them mandatory in their own specifications, and national rules in the selling country can add requirements, so confirm with your buyer.
The European Commission is reviewing the Regulation. Its review page, checked on 14 October 2026, describes an ongoing evaluation and impact assessment, a revision planned by the second quarter of 2026, and topics including environmental information, fibre identification and digital labels. It showed no adopted proposal. Until a new law is adopted and applies, the 2011 rules stay in force.
What this means for home textiles and garments from India
- Use Annex I names. Fibre made from bamboo pulp by the viscose process is labelled “viscose”. “Organic”, “khadi” or “chindi” are descriptions, not fibre names, and must be shown separately from the composition.
- Hand-woven and recycled mixes. Rugs, throws and dhurries from Panipat and Jaipur often mix yarns. State real percentages; “mixed fibres” is only for products whose composition is hard to state at the time of manufacture.
- Cushions and multi-part items. Label the cover and other components that have a different composition, unless the exemption for small non-lining components applies.
- Leather, bone, horn and fur. Leather tabs on cushions or bags, horn buttons and fur trims need the animal-origin phrase.
- Several destination countries. One order shipped to Germany, France and the Netherlands needs labels in each country's official language.
- Furniture coverings. Upholstery covers count when they are at least 80% textile by weight.
Chemical limits for dyes and finishes are separate rules: see EU REACH and azo dyes and restricted substances.
What inspection can check, and what needs a lab
| An inspector at the factory can check | Needs lab analysis |
|---|---|
| A label is present on each piece, securely sewn or attached, and legible | Actual fibre composition and percentages, using the methods in Annex VIII |
| Wording matches the approved artwork: Annex I names, percentages adding up to 100, descending order | Whether a “100% cotton” or “100% linen” claim holds within the 2% extraneous-fibre allowance |
| Languages match the destination countries in the order | Whether the declared percentages are within the 3% tolerance |
| Animal-origin phrase present where leather, bone, horn or fur parts are used | |
| Swing tags, inserts and cartons agree with the sewn-in label |
A burn test or feel test at the factory can raise doubts but cannot confirm percentages.
How Clear To Load checks this in India
On a home textiles inspection in India, the inspector checks label presence, attachment, wording and languages on the sampled pieces against your approved artwork and order, along with workmanship, measurements and packing. If you want fibre composition confirmed, we pull and seal samples for an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab of your choice through lab testing coordination.
Inspectors work in English and Hindi and check foreign-language labels against the artwork you approve. The report arrives within 24 hours of the inspection and ends in Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared. To add label checks, book an inspection.