Textile Products Labelling in Brazil

by Raissa Havens

The president of the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) approved the Consolidated Regulation for the Labelling of Textile Products through INMETRO Ordinance 118 of March 11, 2021. This Regulation establishes mandatory requirements regarding the conformity of information about supplier, country of origin, composition, dimensions and treatments for the preservation of the textile product.

Textile products are defined as raw, processed or semi-worked, manufactured or semi-manufactured products exclusively composed of textile fibers or filaments or both. Those that have at least 80% of their mass consisting of textile fibers or filaments or both fall under the definition.

The following information must be included, in Portuguese, using labels, stamps, decals or similar methods, as long as the requirements of indelibility and permanent display are satisfied:

1. Name or registered trademark by the competent body of the country of consumption and tax identification of the national manufacturer or importer or those who affix their exclusive trademark, or who has a license to use a trademark, according to the case.
   "Tax identification" means the tax records of legal entities or individuals.
2. Country of origin preceded by the words: “Feito no(a)" or "Fabricado no(a)" (in English “Made in”) or "Indústria" (in English “Industry”) followed by the adjective according to the nationality. Designations of economic blocks or indications by country flags only will not be accepted.
3. Name of textile fibers or filaments and their content expressed as a percentage by mass.
4. Care treatment for the preservation of the product.
5. Indication of size or dimension, as appropriate.

Abbreviations will not be accepted, except in cases of size, acronym for tax identification, company name, brand or name, when they are registered as such.

Chapter IV of the Ordinance clarifies the composition statement, defining percentage limit for textile fibers and product composition accordingly.

Chapter VIII specifies products that are exempt from the information above; however, the information must be included on the package or within the package as long as it is visible.

Appendix A of the Regulation contains the generic names of textile fibers and filaments as well as their accepted descriptions.

Appendix B provides a list of products that are not subject to compliance with this regulation.

The proposed date of entry into force is April 1, 2021; however, companies have the following deadlines to adapt to this new rule:

• July 10, 2021 for national manufacturers and importers 
• January 10, 2022 for establishments engaged in distribution or trade.

Recommended Action Items:

Review your products to determine if they are subject to this Regulation.

If applicable, verify that your labels are compliant before the deadlines.

References:

INMETRO Ordinance 118 of March 11, 2021 (in Portuguese)