SG 130/23
On August 28, 2023, the Federal Register of Legislation in Australia officially released the Consumer Goods (Care Labeling) Information Standard 2023. This repeals the previous Consumer Product Information Standard Care Labeling for Clothing and Textile Products (Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010), which outlined the care labeling requirements for clothing and textile products.
The Consumer Goods (Care Labeling) Information Standard 2023 sets out the mandatory requirements for the labeling of a variety of prescribed products, including clothing, household textiles, apparel (including articles such as wedding dresses, christening gowns, and promotional, samples, and flawed products), furnishings, upholstered furniture, bedding (including sleeping bags), mattresses, bed bases, piece goods and yarns made from textiles, plastics, plastic-coated fabrics, suede, skins, hides, grain leathers and/or furs. However, certain products, such as second-hand items, footwear and drapery, are exempt from the care labeling requirements outlined in the standard.
The 2023 updated mandatory standard on care labeling is based on certain sections of the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textile – Care labeling and the International Standard ISO 3758:2012 Textiles – Care labeling code using symbols. It applies to all regulated textile products and requires these products to comply with the standard by providing appropriate care labeling instructions on a permanent label that is legible and securely attached.
The mandatory standard incorporates a transition period to help suppliers adapt to the new requirements. Until March 4, 2024, suppliers must continue to provide care instructions written in English, with the option to include care symbols if they desire. Starting on March 5, 2024, it is no longer mandatory to provide written English instructions. Instead, manufacturers can use either international care symbols alone, instructions written in English alone or a combination.
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