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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 411/4, EIC 413/4
        EIC 429/4, EIC 432/4

18 February 2008

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 122/2008

MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay):
New Labelling Requirements for Textiles and Apparel Products

The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, has published technical regulations to set out its new labelling requirements for textiles and apparel products. The technical regulations are to be incorporated into the national laws of the MERCOSUR member countries by 1 July 2008.

DETAILS

  1. The MERCOSUR technical regulations set forth detailed labelling requirements for textiles and apparel products produced in or imported for consumption into a MERCOSUR member country. In general, textiles and apparel products will be required to include the following information on a label, stamp, print or similar means that is permanent, indelible, easily legible and clearly visible:

  1. name or registered brand and tax identification of the domestic manufacturer or importer;

  2. country of origin;

  3. fibre content;

  4. care labelling instructions; and

  5. size or dimensions, as applicable.

The information shall be presented in the language of the country of consumption though it may also be in other language(s).

  1. Textiles and apparel products sold in packages (such as handkerchiefs, napkins, bibs, stockings, gloves, mosquito nets and seamless products, etc.) are allowed to bear the required information on or inside their packaging if that information can be seen from the outside. If the package contains more than one item and those items cannot be sold separately, the number of units will have to be clearly stated. Textiles and apparel products sold in airtight packages whose labelling information is not visible from the outside must include at least the fibre content, the country of origin and the size or dimensions on their packaging. Curtains, bed linen and kitchen, table and toilet textile articles sold in packages shall bear the required information on or inside their packaging if that information is visible from the outside.

  2. For the purpose of the new labelling requirements, textiles and apparel products are defined as products composed entirely of textile fibres and/or textile filaments, in raw form, treated or semi-treated, manufactured or semi-manufactured, made-up or semi-made-up. Certain products (such as disposable diapers, hair accessories, protective and safety equipment, motor vehicle seats, footwear, felt hats, labels and toys, etc.) will be exempted from the new labelling requirements.

  3. For more details of the technical regulation and information on the implementation by the MERCOSUR member countries, traders are strongly recommended to seek clarifications with their importers in the these countries in order to comply with the necessary requirements. Full text of the technical regulation can be downloaded from the following website: http://www.puntofocal.gov.ar/doc/r_gmc_33-07.pdf

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact Miss S Y TANG at telephone number 2398 5405.


Yours faithfully,


(Miss WONG Ying)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry