1.

Notifying Member: Australia

If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other:

4.

Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Clothing and textiles. A complete list of products which are covered are listed in the current information standard, Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010.; (HS: 6201, 6202, 6203, 6204, 6205, 6206, 6207, 6208, 6209, 6210, 6211, 6212, 6214, 6215, 6216, 6217, 6301, 6302, 6303, 6304, 6307, 6308, 6309)

5.

Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Review of the information standard - Care labelling for clothing and textile products

6.

Description of content: The ACCC is proposing to make a new information standard for care labelling for clothing and textiles to allow suppliers the option to provide this information through internationally recognised symbols or written words.

The ACCC has consulted on this proposal nationally and stakeholders have provided support for it, per policy option 2 - allow international standards, of the consultation paper.

The proposal would allow suppliers to comply with relevant parts of either of the following voluntary standards:

·        Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles - Care labelling)

·        International Standard (ISO 3758-2012 Textiles - Care labelling code using symbols)

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: The information standard requires certain care information to be provided with clothing and textiles in Australia. This care information provides consumers, drycleaners and cleaning professionals with information on how to care for clothing and textiles to help maximise their useful life and avoid damage such as shrinkage and running of colours. The information standard currently requires care instructions for washing, bleaching, drying and ironing to be written in English and attached to applicable clothing and textiles. The ACCC is proposing to allow this care information to be provided through the use of internationally recognised symbols, referenced in the international standard, as an alternative to the existing requirements. Allowing compliance with these standards would reduce the regulatory burden on industry, thereby reducing technical barriers to trade.; Consumer information, labelling

8.

Relevant documents:

Consultation paper – Review of the information standard - Care labelling for clothing & textile products 

Current information standard – Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010

Product Safety Australia page – Care labelling for clothing & textiles

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be confirmed, subject to government approval. Anticipated late 2021 or early 2022.

Proposed date of entry into force: The proposed new information standard would provide a transitional period, usually 12 months, to provide sufficient time for suppliers to transition to the new requirements.

10.

Final date for comments: 60 days from notification

11.

Texts available from: National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:

See Section 8 for relevant documents. For any enquiries contact: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au