OEKO-TEX ® STANDARD 100 certification

Key Information Overview

1. Initiating and Managing Body
   Managed uniformly by the International OEKO-TEX® Association, composed of authoritative textile testing institutes from 18 countries, including the Austrian Textile Research Institute (AITEX) and the German Hohenstein Institute (TESTEX), ensuring the uniformity and authority of the certification standards.
2. Core Purpose of Certification
   To verify whether textiles (from raw materials to finished products) contain chemical substances harmful to the human body, ensuring product safety during wear and use (particularly during skin contact), and eliminating consumer concerns about "chemical residues in textiles."
3. Applicable Product Scope
   Covers the entire textile industry chain, including:

• Raw materials: yarns, fibers (cotton, synthetic fibers, wool, etc.);

• Intermediate products: fabrics, grey cloth;

• Finished products: apparel (underwear, children's clothing, outerwear, etc.), home textiles (bedding, towels, etc.);

• Accessories: zippers, buttons, elastic bands, etc. (must be in direct contact with textiles).

4. Product Classification and Limit Requirements
   Based on the degree of skin contact and usage scenarios, products are classified into 4 categories, with limit requirements progressively relaxed (the strictest being for baby products):

• Product Class 1 (Baby Products): Applicable to textiles for infants aged 0-36 months (e.g., diapers, onesies, etc.), in direct contact with infant/toddler skin and potentially subject to mouthing; the strictest limit values apply;

• Product Class 2 (Direct Skin Contact): Applicable to garments worn close to the skin (e.g., underwear, T-shirts, bed sheets, etc.), in prolonged direct contact with skin;

• Product Class 3 (No Direct Skin Contact): Applicable to outerwear, sweaters, etc., which do not frequently come into direct contact with skin;

• Product Class 4 (Decorative Materials): Applicable to decorative textiles such as curtains, carpets, and wall coverings.

5. Key Testing Items
   The testing scope covers hundreds of harmful substances, with core items including:

• Banned azo dyes (capable of decomposing into carcinogenic aromatic amines);

• Formaldehyde (skin and respiratory tract irritation, carcinogenic risk);

• Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, etc., cumulative toxicity);

• Pesticide residues (potential residues from natural fiber cultivation);

• pH value (excessively high or low values may irritate the skin);

• Odor (may originate from harmful chemical substances);

• Chlorinated phenols, organotin compounds, etc. (biotoxic substances).

6. Certification Process

• The enterprise submits an application and samples to an OEKO-TEX® authorized laboratory;

• The laboratory tests according to the standard; if all items meet the corresponding category limits, a certificate is issued;

• The certificate is valid for 12 months, requiring re-testing and re-certification annually.

7. Significance and Labeling

• For enterprises: Demonstrates product safety compliance, enhances brand trust, and facilitates entry into international markets (particularly regions with strict textile safety requirements such as Europe and North America);

• For consumers: The "OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100" label on products (typically including a certificate number) allows quick identification of safe textiles and reduces health risks (the certificate number can be verified on the OEKO-TEX® official website).