Textile labelling: complete guide to mandatory mentions

Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and related labelling is the founding text for textile labelling in Europe. Since 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/2498 on general product safety (GPSR) imposes new identification and traceability obligations. This guide details every requirement — fibre composition, ISO 3758 care symbols, GPSR, CE marking — with tolerances, common pitfalls and precise regulatory references.

1. Fibre composition — the foundation of textile labelling

Regulation 1007/2011 requires the indication of textile fibre composition on the label or marking of any textile product placed on the EU market. The composition must state the name of each fibre in accordance with Annex I of the regulation (e.g. 'cotton', 'polyester', 'elastane'), followed by its percentage by mass.

Fibres are listed in descending order of their percentage by mass. Each fibre representing 5% or more of the total weight must be individually named. Fibres below 5% may be grouped under 'other fibres', provided their total does not exceed 15%.

For a product composed of 100% of a single fibre, the mention '100% cotton' or 'pure cotton' is allowed. The term 'pure' may only be used for single-fibre products.

2. Multi-layer and multi-component textiles

When a textile product is composed of several parts with different compositions (e.g. lining, padding, outer fabric), each part must have a separate indication. The label must specify the part concerned and its composition: 'Outer: 80% polyester, 20% cotton — Lining: 100% polyamide'.

For products containing non-textile parts of animal origin (leather, fur, feathers), Art. 12 of Regulation 1007/2011 requires the mention 'Contains non-textile parts of animal origin'. This obligation applies even if the animal part is minimal (e.g. mother-of-pearl button, leather patch).

3. Commercial name and responsible person identification

In addition to composition, the textile label must bear the name or business name and address of the manufacturer or importer established in the EU. This is the economic operator responsible for placing the product on the market. For products imported from outside the EU, the importer assumes this responsibility.

Commercial sizing (S, M, L, XL or numeric sizing) is not regulated at European level by Regulation 1007/2011, but it is expected by consumers and required by commercial best practices.

4. Country of origin

Country of origin indication is not mandatory at European level for textiles, except when its absence could mislead the consumer. However, if the mention is present, it must be accurate.

For products imported from third countries, the country of origin corresponds to the country of last substantial transformation (non-preferential origin rule). Simple packaging or labelling in an EU country is not sufficient to confer European origin.

5. Care symbols — ISO 3758

Care symbols (washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional cleaning) are not legally mandatory in the EU under Regulation 1007/2011. However, they are almost universally used and strongly recommended by industry professionals. The standardised system is defined by ISO 3758.

• Washing — Wash tub symbol: maximum temperature, delicate programme (one bar), very delicate (two bars), hand wash
• Bleaching — Triangle symbol: any bleaching allowed, oxygen only, not allowed (crossed triangle)
• Drying — Square symbol: tumble drying (inscribed circle with dots for temperature), natural drying (lines)
• Ironing — Iron symbol: one dot (110 °C), two dots (150 °C), three dots (200 °C), do not iron
• Professional cleaning — Circle symbol: letters P (perchloroethylene), F (hydrocarbons), W (professional wet cleaning)

Care symbols are registered trademarks of Ginetex (International Association for Textile Care Labelling). Their commercial use requires a licence from the national Ginetex committee. Manufacturers must ensure that care instructions do not damage the garment: the symbol engages the manufacturer's liability.

6. GPSR — Regulation (EU) 2024/2498 on General Product Safety

Since 13 December 2024, the GPSR replaces Directive 2001/95/EC. It imposes new traceability and identification obligations for all consumer products, including textiles. Economic operators must provide on the product, packaging or accompanying document:

• The name, business name or registered trademark of the manufacturer
• The postal address of the manufacturer (not just a country)
• The name and address of the importer (if the manufacturer is outside the EU)
• A reference enabling product identification (type, batch, serial number or other element)
• Warnings or safety information necessary in the language of the country of sale

For textiles sold online, GPSR information must be visible on the product page before purchase. The GPSR also allows the use of a digital medium (QR code, data matrix) to supplement — but not replace — physical traceability information.

7. CE marking — special cases

CE marking is not required for standard clothing textiles. It is only mandatory in the following cases:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) — Regulation (EU) 2016/425: protective gloves, high-visibility clothing, chemical suits
• Textile toys — Directive 2009/48/EC: plush toys, children's costumes
• Medical device textiles — Regulation (EU) 2017/745: compression stockings, bandages
• Construction product textiles — Regulation (EU) 305/2011: geotextiles, waterproof membranes

For these categories, the CE marking must be affixed visually, legibly and indelibly on the product or on an attached label. It must be accompanied by the notified body number where applicable.

8. Multilingual requirements

Regulation 1007/2011 (Art. 16) requires that labelling information be written in the official language(s) of the Member State where the product is made available to the final consumer. In practice, this means:

• France — French mandatory (Consumer Code, Art. L. 412-1)
• Belgium — French, Dutch and German depending on the region
• Germany — German mandatory
• Spain — Castilian mandatory, plus co-official languages by autonomous community
• Italy — Italian mandatory
• Netherlands — Dutch mandatory

For a product sold in several EU countries, the label must include mentions in all languages of the countries of sale. The most common solution is a multi-panel label or a booklet sewn into the garment.

9. Common textile labelling mistakes

• Incorrectly named fibres — Using "nylon" instead of "polyamide", "lycra" instead of "elastane". Only the names in Annex I of Regulation 1007/2011 are allowed.
• Incorrectly rounded percentages — Percentages must be whole numbers, rounded to the unit. A total of 99% or 101% is non-compliant.
• "Made in" vs actual country of origin — Confusing the country of final assembly with the country where the fabric was manufactured. The country of origin is that of the last substantial transformation.
• Missing "non-textile parts of animal origin" mention — Frequently forgotten on items with leather patches, mother-of-pearl buttons or feathers.
• Care symbols in wrong order — Not respecting the ISO 3758 order (washing → bleaching → drying → ironing → professional cleaning).
• Missing GPSR mentions — Since December 2024, the absence of a product reference or complete manufacturer/importer address constitutes a non-compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Are care symbols mandatory on textile labels?

No. Care symbols (washing, drying, ironing...) defined by ISO 3758 are not legally mandatory in the European Union under Regulation 1007/2011. However, they are almost universally used and strongly recommended. Their absence can lead to customer returns and engage the manufacturer's liability if the consumer damages the product due to lack of instructions. Moreover, some distributors (mass retail, marketplaces) contractually require them.

What information does the GPSR require on textile labels?

Regulation (EU) 2024/2498 on general product safety (GPSR), applicable since 13 December 2024, requires on the product or its packaging: the full name and postal address of the manufacturer, the name and address of the importer (if the manufacturer is outside the EU), and a product identification reference (type, batch or serial number). This information must appear in the language of the country of sale. For online sales, it must be visible on the product page before purchase.

How to indicate the composition of a multi-layer textile?

For a textile product composed of several layers or parts with different compositions (e.g. jacket with lining), each part must have a separate indication on the label. State the part concerned followed by its composition: 'Outer: 80% polyester, 20% cotton — Lining: 100% polyamide'. If the product contains non-textile parts of animal origin (leather, fur, feathers, mother-of-pearl), the mention 'Contains non-textile parts of animal origin' is mandatory (Art. 12, Reg. 1007/2011).