SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is advising stakeholders that China has published a new standard for children’s leather sandals – QB/T 4546-2021.
Issued on December 2, 2021, by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology the new product standard came into effect on April 1, 2022, replacing the 2012 iteration. It applies to the production, inspection and sale of sandals for children and infants, where the uppers are mainly made of natural leather, artificial materials, or textile materials by various processes. Manufacturers can also refer to this standard is the upper strap (upper) is made from another material.
Stakeholders should be aware the new standard applies to sandals for general use and is not applicable to sandals for infants and children that have special functions.
The new standard has revisions to:
- Scope
- Normative references
- Definitions of ‘infants’ leather sandals’ and ‘children’s leather sandals’
- ‘General requirements’
- ‘Appearance quality’ requirements
- ‘Flexing resistance of whole shoe’ and ‘peeling strength of upper-sole’ requirements
- ‘Abrasion resistance of outsole’ and ‘hardness of outsole’ requirements and test methods
- ‘Upper strap pull-out strength (or upper strap pull-out force)’ requirements, and ‘upper strap pull-out force’ test method
- ‘Shanks for footwear’ requirements
- Judgment rules
- Requirement of ‘packaging, transportation, storage’
Additions to:
- Requirements and test methods for ‘discoloration’
- Requirements and test methods for ‘outsole and midsole adhesive strength’
- Annex A of ‘after-sale quality judgment for children’s leather sandals’
Finally, there are deletions to:
- Requirement and test method for ‘odor’ and ‘total thickness of upper strap’
- Requirement and test method for ‘limited substances’ and ‘physical safety performance’
- ‘Inspection classification’, ‘factory inspection’, ‘type inspection’, ‘inspection items’
- Annex A of ‘examples of classification of accessories
- Annex B of ‘tensile strength test of small parts’
Stakeholders looking for an overview of the main technical requirements in QB/T 4546-2021 should review SGS’s original SafeGuardS 065/22, which includes a table containing the main test methods and requirements.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories, including 10 in China, specializing in testing of apparel, footwear, and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to conduct 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. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.
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For further information contact:
Louann Spirito
Consumer and Retail — Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: cp.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
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