Guide to the txtile labelling and adversing regulations

75% Rayon/Rayonne

21% Polyester

4% Other fibre/Autre fibre

CA00549

New Enterprise Inc.

22 Anywhere Street

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9

75% Polyester

25% Cotton/Coton

Government Gouvernement

of Canada du Canada

September 2000

GUIDE TO

THE TEXTILE LABELLING AND ADVERTISING REGULATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.INTRODUCTION (1)

II.OBJECTIVES OF THE TEXTILE LABELLING ACT & THE TEXTILE LABELLING AND ADVERTISING REGULATIONS (1)

III.PROHIBITIONS (1)

IV.DEFINITIONS (2)

1. Dealer (2)

2. Consumer Textile Article (2)

3. Textile Fibre Product (2)

4. Label (2)

V.ARTICLES TO BE LABELLED (3)

VI. EXEMPTIONS (3)

VII.REQUIRED INFORMATION (3)

1. Fibre Content (3)

a) Generic Name (3)

(i) Natural and Man-Made Fibres (3)

(ii) Animal Hair or Fibre or Fur Fibre (4)

(iii) Reclaimed Fibres (4)

(iv) Unknown, Undetermined, Miscellaneous or Mixed Fibres (4)

b) Amount of fibre (5)

(i) Percentage by Mass (5)

(ii) All or Pure (6)

(iii) Mixed or Miscellaneous Fibres, Yarns or Fabrics (6)

c) Sectional Disclosure (6)

(i) Linings, Interlinings, Paddings or Fillings (7)

(ii) Pile, Coated and Impregnated Fabrics (7)

(iii) Carpets (8)

(iv) Films and Foams (8)

d) Other Variations (9)

(i) Other Fibre(s) (9)

(ii) Elastic Yarns (9)

(iii) Reinforcement Yarns (10)

(iv) Ornamentation (10)

(v) Trimming (11)

(vi) Findings (13)

2. Bilingual Requirements (13)

3. Dealer Identity (14)

VIII.FORM AND APPLICATION OF LABELS (15)

1. Form (15)

2. Application (15)

a) Permanent Labels (15)

b) Non-permanent Labels (16)

IX.VARIATIONS IN THE REQUIREMENTS (16)

1. Second-hand Articles (16)

2. Labelling of Prepackaged Consumer Textile Articles (16)

3. Alternatives to Commercially Printed Labels for Home-crafted Articles (17)

X.NON-REQUIRED INFORMATION (17)

1. Trade Marks and Descriptive Terms (17)

2. Sizing (18)

3. Care Information (18)

XI.ADVERTISING (19)

XII.IMPORTED ITEMS (19)

XIII.FLAMMABILITY STANDARDS (20)

XIV.UPHOLSTERED & STUFFED ARTICLES (20)

XV.FURTHER ASSISTANCE (21)

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A GENERIC NAMES FOR NATURAL FIBRES (22)

APPENDIX B GENERIC NAMES FOR MAN-MADE FIBRES (24)

APPENDIX C EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER TEXTILE ARTICLES REQUIRING

PERMANENT LABELS ABLE TO WITHSTAND TEN

CLEANINGS (25)

APPENDIX D EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER TEXTILE ARTICLES ELIGIBLE

FOR A NON-PERMANENT LABEL (26)

APPENDIX E EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER TEXTILE ARTICLES THAT ARE

EXEMPT FROM THE LABELLING REQUIREMENTS OF THE

TEXTILE LABELLING ACT AND REGULATIONS (27)

APPENDIX F OFFICES DEALING WITH THE PROVINCIAL REQUIREMENTS

FOR UPHOLSTERED AND STUFFED ARTICLES (28)

APPENDIX G APPLICATION FOR A CA IDENTIFICATION NUMBER . . . . . . . . 29

1

I.INTRODUCTION

This guide provides an outline to the basic labelling requirements for consumer textile articles subject to the Textile Labelling Act and the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations. The full text of the Act and Regulations should be consulted for a more detailed understanding of these provisions.

Electronic copies of the Textile Labelling Act and Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations are available at: canada.justice.gc.ca/loireg/index_en. Printed copies of the Act and Regulations may be obtained for a fee from Canada Government Publishing (PWGSC):

Telephone:(819) 956-4802

1-800-635-7943

Facsimile: (819) 994-1498

Web site: publications.pwgsc.gc.ca

II.OBJECTIVES OF THE TEXTILE LABELLING ACT & THE TEXTILE LABELLING AND ADVERTISING REGULATIONS

?to protect consumers against misrepresentation in the labelling and advertising of textile fibre products;

?to enable consumers to choose textiles on the basis of fibre content.

III.PROHIBITIONS Sections 3, 4 and 5 Act The Textile Labelling Act prohibits:

? a dealer from selling, importing into Canada or advertising prescribed consumer textile articles unless they are labelled with fibre content and dealer identification

in accordance with the Act and Regulations;

? a dealer from making, in an advertisement, any representation with respect to the fibre content of the article unless it is in accordance with the Regulations;

? a dealer from making any false or misleading representations relating to textile fibre products, by means of a label, advertisement or otherwise.

The misleading advertising and deceptive marketing practices sections of the Competition Act may also apply. Generally speaking these provisions prohibit making a materially false or misleading representation for the purpose of promoting a product or business interest.

2

IV.DEFINITIONS

1. Dealer Section 2 Act

The “dealer” is the person who is a manufacturer, processor, finisher or retailer of a

textile fibre product, or a person who is engaged in the business of importing or selling

any textile fibre product.

It is the responsibility of the dealer to ensure that all information provided on labels and in advertisements is accurate.

2. Consumer Textile Article Section 2 Act

The term “consumer textile article” means any textile fibre, yarn or fabric, or any product made in whole or in part from a textile fibre, yarn or fabric that is in the form in which it is to be sold to any person for consumption or use. This term does not include textile

fibre products which are to be used in the manufacturing, processing or finishing of any

product for sale.