A new Technical Regulation covering
minimum labeling requirements for footwear, leather goods, travel and similar
items, has been approved for Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, collectively
known as the Andean Community.
Andean Technical Regulation No. 2017 was
passed in November 2019. It sets out the minimum labeling information that must
be included on footwear, leather goods, travel and similar items, to avoid consumers
being misled.
Labels must contain, as a minimum, the
following information (includes the permanency of the label):
- Predominant material that constitutes the product – permanent
- Manufacturer or importer’s identification – permanent or non-permanent
- Size (only for footwear) – permanent or non-permanent
- Country of origin or manufacturing –
permanent
The regulation indicates the
type of expressions that can be used for country of origin. Although similar
phrases may be applicable, examples include:
- “Hecho en …”
- “Fabricado en…”
- “Elaborado en…”
The predominant material must
be determined by excluding accessories and purely decorative trims, eyelet
rings, buckles, etc. For footwear, the label must include information on the
predominant materials in the following key parts of the shoe:
- Upper
- Lining
- Insole – only materials that come into contact with the foot
- Sole
The predominant material is
determined by what constitutes at least 80% of the surface area of each part of
the shoe, and at least 80% of the volume of the insole. In cases where no
single material meets this criterion, the two main materials used in that part
will be entered, with the predominant one being the one with the most usage.
For leather goods, travel and similar
items, the content information on the predominant materials refers to the
following parts:
- Shell
- Lining (if there is no lining, it should
be marked ‘unlined’)
The same rules are used to determine the
predominant material.
Stakeholders should be aware that the
Technical Regulation describes what information should be permanent and what
can be contained on a non-permanent label. It does, however, include a
provision that states a non-permanent label can be used when it is unfeasible to
present the required permanent information by stamping, stenciling, sewing,
printing or engraving.
The above information must be
contained on one or more labels. It must be written in simple terms and must be
indelible, legible, visible and easily accessible to the consumer. It must be
written in Spanish, although additional languages, expressions, abbreviations,
symbols or pictograms may be used.
It should be noted that
additional or special information must not cover or distort the minimum
information required. The Technical Regulation also states that corrections and
updates with the new information cannot be superimposed over an original label.
Stakeholders manufacturing or importing ‘sets’ – two or more pieces – should
note that all items should be labelled individually, even if they contain the
same composition of materials. The exception is footwear. If it is manufactured
to the same design and using the same material, the required information need
only be presented on one of the pair, but the shoe size must be on both.
Technical Regulation No. 2017 comes into effect twelve months after it is
published in the Official Gazette of the Cartagena Agreement.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40
state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in testing of apparel, footwear and
home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary
backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical,
chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished
products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with
international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s
Softlines Services.
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with
the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Andean Community Approved Technical Regulations on
Labelling of Footwear, Leather Goods, Travel and Similar Items SafeGuardS.
Subscribe here to
receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.
For further information contact:
Louann
Spirito
Consumer and Retail —
Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
SGS is the world’s
leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is
recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than
97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories
around the world.