GB Testing for Textile & Leather Products

May 2017

Modern Testing Services is a global, strategic partner for fast,

accurate, and cost effective quality assurance solutions in the

consumer products industry. Utilizing our expertise throughout the

sourcing process increases speed-to-market efficiency, decreases

costs, and better positions your products to meet or exceed

customer expectations. MTS is committed to helping clients

protect their brand image by providing comprehensive product

knowledge vital to making timely critical business decisions.

Our laboratories have obtained international accreditation from

relevant accreditation bodies and industry associations. Our

testing services are approved by standardization committees in

EU, the US, and at global (ISO) level, such accreditations include:

- European Commission (EC) Notified Body

- United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

- Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

- Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS)

- China National Accreditation Service (CNAS)

- Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF)

MTS offers a vast array of GB

testing capabilities and we

can help your products meet

the safety, quality,

and requirements for selling

into the Chinese market.

Solid in-depth experience

with China’s GB testing

The most advanced

analytical testing

instrumentation in the

industry

Our textile & apparel testing

programs can analyze all

categories of clothing and

more, including; home

textiles, garment

accessories, leather goods,

etc.

Page 1

MTS’ Testing Services on Consumer Products

Page 2

GB 18401 - National General Safety Technical Code for Textile Products

China National General Safety Technical Code for Textile Products GB 18401 is adopted by General

Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine of P.R.C (AQSIQ) on November 27, 2003. It

standardizes general safety technical requirements for textile and apparel products, testing methods, rules of

inspections, and guide for implementation and supervision. This regulation has been in force since Jan 1, 2005.

GB 18401 classifies textile & apparel products into 3 categories:

Category Examples of Product

A. Products for babies (≤ 36 months) Diaper pads, diapers, underwear, bibs, pajamas, gloves, socks, coats, hats, beddings

B. Products with direct skin contact Bras, bellybands, vests, shorts, skirts, cotton singlets, skirts (summer), trousers (summer), socks, bed sheets, underwear, quilt cover, towels, swimming suit, hats

C. Products without direct skin contact Sweaters, jackets, skirts, trousers, curtains, bedspreads, wall fabrics, fillings, linings

Testing Item Category A Category B Category C GB Standard ISO Standard US Standard

Formaldehyde Content(mg/kg) ≤20 ≤75 ≤300 GB/T 2912.1 ISO 14184-1 AATCC 112

pH Value 4.0 to 7.5 4.0 to 8.5 4.0 to 9.0 GB/T 7573 ISO 3071 AATCC 81

Colorfastness to Water Grade≥3-4 Grade≥3 Grade≥3 GB/T 5713 ISO 105 E01 AATCC 107

Colorfastness to Acid Perspiration

Grade≥3-4 Grade≥3 Grade≥3 GB/T 3922 ISO 105 E04 AATCC 15

Colorfastness to Alkali Perspiration

Grade≥3-4 Grade≥3 Grade≥3 GB/T 3922 ISO 105 E04 N/A

Colorfastness to Dry Rubbing Grade≥4 Grade≥3 Grade≥3 GB/T 3920 ISO 105 X12 AATCC 8

Colorfastness to Saliva Grade≥4 N/A N/A GB/T 18886 DIN 53160 DIN 53160

Unpleasant Odor None GB 18401 SNV 19565 -

Dyestuff that Produce Banned Aromatic Amines

Prohibited(≤ 20mg/kg) GB/T 17592 EN 14362-1 EN 14362-2

-

= Test results can be substituted as GB standard

= Test results can not be substituted as GB standard

= GB test is slightly modified from ISO standard

Technical Requirement Chart:

Remarks:

GB 20400 - Leather and Fur - Limit of Harmful Matter

GB 20400 - Leather and Fur - Limit of Harmful Matter has come into force since December 1, 2007. The standard

defines the limits of harmful substances in leather and fur consumer products, which are sold, distributed or

imported to China.

GB 20400 classifies textile products into 3 categories as below:

Page 3

Category Examples of Product

A. Products for babies (≤ 24 months) Underwear, gloves, socks, outerwear, hats, bedding items

B. Products with direct skin contact Underwear, gloves (without lining), socks, close-fitting clothing without lining, leather summer sleeping mat

C. Products without direct skin contact Leather jackets, tapestries, ornaments, trousers, skirts

Testing Item Category A Category B Category C GB Standard

Decomposable Harmful Aromatic Amine Dyes (mg/kg)

≤30 GB/T 19942

Free Formaldehyde (mg/kg) ≤20 ≤75 ≤300 (White sheared

sheepskin ≤600) GB/T 19941

Technical Requirement Chart:

GB 21550 - Restriction of Hazardous Materials in Polyvinyl Chloride Artificial Leather

GB 21550 - Restriction of hazardous materials in polyvinyl chloride artificial leather has come into force since March 1, 2009. The standard defines the limits of harmful substances in PVC materials, which the consumer products are sold, distributed or imported to China.

The common usage of PVC artificial leathers in footwear, apparel, and textile products raises the concern of hazardous substances in PVC to the general public. GB 21550 aims to protect the health of the general public, restrict the contents of hazardous materials and make improvements to the environment.

The restricted substances are soluble heavy metals including soluble lead and soluble cadmium, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and other volatile substances contained in PVC artificial leather.

“Qualified” products indicate that they meet or exceed all the requirements of this standard. If products do not meet one or more of the minimum requirement, they cannot be sold, distributed or imported to the China market.

Page 4

Test Item Requirement

Soluble Lead (Pb) ≤90 mg/kg

Soluble Cadmium (Cd) ≤75 mg/kg

Vinyl Chloride Monomer ≤5 mg/kg

Others Volatile Substances ≤20 g/m2

Technical Requirement Chart:

Page 5

GB 5296.4 - Instructions for Use of Products of Consumer Interest—Part 4: Textiles and Apparel

GB 5296.4 - Instructions for use of textiles and apparel applies to textiles and apparels sold, distributed or imported to China and the latest version has come into enforcement since May 1, 2014.

The “instruction for use” of textile & apparel must contain a qualified certificate showing the product is complying with:

• Name and address of the manufacturer (importer)

• Product name

• Product sizes or specification*

• Fibre composition and contents*

• Care instruction*

• Product standard (FZ/T XXXX, GB/T XXXX)

• Safety categories (GB 18401 Category A/B/C)

• Use and storage precautions

• Country of origin for imported products

*Remark: Product sizes or specification, fibre composition and contents, care instruction must be displayed on permanent label.

Page 6

• Products Line Review • Mill Certification Program

• Colorfastness Testing • Tensile, Tear, and Bursting Strength

• Dimensional Stability, Shrinkage, and Torque • Garment Accessories Test

• Fiber Analysis, Thread Count, Fabric Weight • Feather, Down, and Thermal Testing

• Training to Ensure a Compliant Supply Chain • Care Labeling & Fiber Labeling

• Flammability of General Wearing Apparel • Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear

• Restricted Substances on Trims & Accessories

MTS: Your One-Stop GB Testing Solution for Textile and Leather Products

MTS is accredited to test according to GB Standards issued by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and our CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment) and CMA (China Metrology Accreditation) accredited laboratories are able to offer a wide range of services to the Softlines industry at every stage of the supply chain. We accomplish our goal by supporting retailers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers in the testing of textiles and apparel from fabric and trim samples to finished products.

Our services include, but not limited to:

TECHNICAL CONSULTATION & SOLUTIONS DEVELOPMENT

PHYSICAL & PERFORMANCE TESTING

REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE TESTING

www.mts-global.com enquiry@mts-global.com

Your Quality Assurance Solution

MTS Global Locations

Hong Kong Vietnam Thailand USA

China India Bangladesh France

• Dongguan • Bangalore Pakistan Germany

• Shanghai • Tirupur Sri Lanka United Kingdom

• Qingdao • Noida Korea Turkey

Taiwan Indonesia Cambodia Australia

In the unpredictable waves of evolving regulatory requirements, Modern Testing

Services “MTS” has been the trustworthy beacon that has navigated our clients

across the uncertain waters of sourcing, supply and demand. A partnership with MTS

immediately reinforces supply chain efficiency by implementing decades of technical

expertise, industry best practices, and creative solutions necessary to maintaining a

competitive business advantage.