Care labelling for clothing and textiles

This mandatory standard was updated on 5 September 2023 and specifies the labelling requirements for clothing and textile products.

About care labelling

Care labelling provides the public with enough information to:

• know how to care for clothing and textile products
• have prior knowledge of costs, such as dry cleaning, in the ongoing care of clothing and textile products
• understand how to clean clothing and textile products properly (for example, cold hand wash only)
• maximise the useful life of clothing and textile products
• avoid damage such as dyes running (for example, wash separately).

The mandatory standard requires that textile products including clothing, textiles, furnishing and suede skins, leathers and furs must have adequate care labelling instructions attached to them.

The mandatory standard for care labelling for clothing and textiles applies to:

• clothing
• household textiles
• furnishings
• piece goods made from textiles
• plastic coated fabrics
• suede skins
• leathers
• furs.

Exclusions

The mandatory standard excludes:

• second hand goods
• some types of men’s, women’s, children’s and infant’s wear (unsupported coats (including overcoats, jackets and the like) of PVC film, handkerchiefs, braces, garter suspenders, arm bands, belts, headwear)
• footwear (all footwear other than all types of hosiery and textile materials used in the manufacture of footwear)
• drapery (floor cloths, dish cloths, dusters, cleaning cloths, pressing cloths)
• haberdashery (ornaments, artificial flowers, sewing and embroidery threads and all other small items of haberdashery)
• furnishings (oil baize, window blinds, shade blinds, sun blinds, awnings, floor coverings, light fittings, lampshades, tapestries, wall hangings, ornaments, handicraft items, draught excluders, non-upholstered furniture, cushions and cushion covers manufactured from remnants and labelled by the manufacturer with the following disclaimer "cushion cover manufactured from remnant/s, care treatment unknown”)
• jute products
• medical and surgical goods
• canvas goods (beach and garden umbrella coverings)
• miscellaneous goods (cords, twines, lashings, garden hose, toys, umbrellas and parasols, shoelaces, woven labels, flex coverings, sporting and gardening gloves, articles designed to be disposed of after one use (except where specifically included) or intended for one use only (including disposable plastic rain ponchos and interment garments for the deceased), mops, basket hangers, shoe holders, remnants, industrial gloves, polypropylene webbing furniture, all bags and cases (including handbags, purses, wallets, travel bags, school bags, sports bags, briefcases and wash bags)).

Mandatory standard

The mandatory standard, the Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023 sets out the mandatory requirements for the labelling of a variety of prescribed products.

This mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the voluntary Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles - Care labelling and the International Standard ISO 3758:2012 Textiles—Care labelling code using symbols. Both standards are available from SAI Global.

Suppliers may provide extra information, such as care instructions in other languages, provided the requirements of the mandatory standard are met.

Key requirements

These requirements aim to give suppliers a general idea of what is required by the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.

The mandatory standard provides transition periods to assist suppliers to adjust to the new requirements.

Suppliers must continue to provide care instructions written in English until 4 March 2024. From 5 March 2024, suppliers can provide care instructions written in English or by using the international care symbols.

More information about the new standard and transitional periods is available in the Explanatory Statement on the Federal Register of Legislation website

Labelling

The mandatory standard requires that textile products including clothing, textiles, furnishing and suede skins, leathers and furs must have adequate care labelling instructions attached to them. Suppliers must continue to provide care instructions written in English until 4 March 2024. From 5 March 2024, suppliers can provide care instructions written in English or by using the international care symbols (or both). For more information on the international care symbols see Care labelling for clothing and textiles.

Suppliers may provide extra information, such as care instructions in other languages, provided the requirements of the mandatory standard are met.

Transitional period

The mandatory standard provides transition periods to assist suppliers to adjust to the new requirements.

From 5 September 2023 until 4 March 2024 suppliers must continue to provide a care label written in English, but can additionally provide care symbols if they wish.

From 5 March 2024, suppliers can choose to provide a care label written in English or by using the care symbols, or both.

More information about the new standard and transitional periods is available in the Explanatory Statement on the Federal Register of Legislation website.