Voluntary safety - and enviornmental labels

The award of the European Community eco-label for textile products is subject to Commission Decision 1999/ 178/EC of 17 February 1999 (178/EC, 1999). The criteria relevant for antimicrobially modified textile materials are  

The latest draft of the revision to the above described Decision (Textile Ecolabel Working Group, 2001) extends the criteria for biocidal or biostatic products  

The award of the European Oko-Tex Standard 100 label is subject to the General and special conditions for the authorization to use the Oko-Tex Standard 100 mark (Okotex, 2002). The conditions relevant to anti-microbial textiles are  

A distinction is made between two different types of test systems  

When testing for the specific anti-microbial activity of an active substance, reference samples and control materials which have not been finished are necessary. They must be of the identical structure and chemical composition as the test material, but without the anti-microbial finish. When testing for the general antimicrobial activity at which all textile related activity affects the microorganisms, the reference samples mentioned above are not required instead, suitable positive growth controls which prove the biological operability of the test or test organisms are required. 

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