Japan intends to formulate limit values ​​for PCBs in textiles

Editor's note: In recent years, Japan has increasingly tested textiles that involve the health and safety of human life and environmental protection. In terms of textiles and clothing, Japan has set up a large number of technical trade measures.

Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) initiated an initiative to investigate and qualify pigment pigments that contain more than 50 ppm of PCBs and that exceed the limits specified in the PCB safety standards for persistent organic pollutants set by the Stockholm Convention. For those toner pigments with severe PCBs exceeding this standard, they will be ordered to suspend production and withdraw from the market. The initiative is based on the discovery of trace PCBs by 57 batches of products during the investigation of 98 batches of organic pigments by the Japan Dyestuff and Chemical Industry Association (JDICA). PCBs are introduced into textiles as an antistatic agent and flame retardant. When they are burned, they release highly toxic substances, causing serious health and environmental problems**. At the same time, PCBs can cause skin coloration, gastrointestinal discomfort, and have a carcinogenic effect, which is a toxic and harmful substance in the "environmental hormones."

In recent years, Japan has increasingly tested textiles that involve the health and safety of human life and environmental protection. In terms of textiles and clothing, Japan has set up a large number of technical trade measures. For example, the “Law for Controlling the Content of Harmful Substances in Commodities” and “Rules for the Implementation of Regulations on the Content of Harmful Substances in Commodities” stipulate the limits for hazardous substances in textiles; the “Fire Control Act” regulates the burning properties of textiles; The 16th part of the Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations stipulates the burning characteristics of automotive interior materials; the "Code for the Quality of Textile Products" and the "Regulations for the Recognition of the Numbers of Quality Indicators for Fiber Products", etc., all of which impose stringent quality on the quality of textiles for the corresponding uses. Provisions.

In this regard, the author suggests that the relevant departments: timely communication with the product to the Japanese production companies, to carry out training and information, enhance the company's quality and safety and self-prevention awareness, and guide enterprises to do a good job responding; increase the intensity of the sampling of textiles lost in Japan, Strictly check textiles imported to Japan, conduct sample inspections when necessary, avoid incidents such as return shipments and recalls caused by omissions, implement registration and registration management systems for third-party companies, expand the scope of inspection and supervision, and urge enterprises to establish and improve supplier files. Strictly control the source of production; strengthen process supervision, and include third-party processing enterprises such as fabric processing, dyeing and finishing, and embroidery into the scope of inspection and supervision to ensure the quality and safety of the final product.