Care Label Requirements in the EU: A Practical Guide for Brands

If you sell clothing or home textiles in the European Union, the label sewn inside the product is not just a branding detail. Part of it is regulated, part of it is industry standard, and part of it is good practice that protects you from returns and complaints. This guide separates the three, so you know what you must include, what you should include and how to lay it out on a label that survives washing.

The legal basis: Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011

The core EU rule is Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products. As a regulation, it applies directly in every member state. It covers textile products, meaning products made of at least 80% textile fibres by weight, and some other products such as furniture or umbrella coverings with a textile component.

Fibre names

Only the fibre names listed in Annex I of the regulation may be used, such as cotton, wool, polyester, polyamide, elastane or viscose. Trade names and brand names of fibres can appear, but only alongside the official fibre name, not instead of it. Abbreviations are not allowed for the fibre composition, apart from specific exceptions such as codes defined in international standards that are explained in the same document.

Percentages by weight

• A product made of one fibre only may be described as 100%, pure or all, with a small tolerance for extraneous fibres that are technically unavoidable.
• Multi-fibre products must list each fibre and its percentage by weight, in descending order, for example 65% polyester, 35% cotton.
• Fibres that individually make up no more than 5%, or together no more than 15%, may be grouped as other fibres in certain cases.
• Visible, isolable decorative fibres up to 7% and antistatic fibres up to 2% of the total weight do not have to be counted.
• A manufacturing tolerance of 3% between the stated and the actual percentages is permitted.

Products with several components

Where a product has distinct parts with different compositions, such as an outer fabric and a lining, the composition is given for each part. Small components can be exempt, but main linings must normally be declared. Label it clearly: Shell: 100% wool / Lining: 100% viscose.

Non-textile parts of animal origin

If the product contains non-textile parts of animal origin, such as a leather patch, real fur trim, horn buttons or feathers, the label must say so with the phrase Contains non-textile parts of animal origin, translated into the required language. This is a common omission on garments with a leather brand patch, so check it if you use genuine leather labels.

Durability, legibility and language

The labelling must be durable, easily legible, visible and accessible and, in the case of a label, securely attached. The composition must use a uniform font, size and style. It must be in the official language or languages of the member state where the product is made available to consumers, unless that country allows otherwise. A garment sold in Bulgaria needs Bulgarian; one sold in Belgium may need more than one language. The same composition information must also be visible to consumers before purchase online or in catalogues.

Exceptions

Annex V of the regulation lists products that do not require fibre labelling (certain small or special items), and Annex VI lists products where one inclusive label for a group is enough. If your product is borderline, check the annexes directly rather than assuming.

Care instructions and symbols

Here is a point many buyers find surprising: EU law does not make care instructions mandatory as such. In practice, however, care instructions are expected by retailers, by consumers and by general product-safety and consumer-protection principles, and some markets outside the EU require them. A garment without care information invites complaints when it shrinks or bleeds.

The international reference is ISO 3758, in its current 2023 edition. The care symbols are registered trademarks owned by GINETEX, the international association for textile care labelling, in many countries. The basic symbols always appear in the same order:

1. Washing (washtub)
2. Bleaching (triangle)
3. Drying (square: tumble drying and natural drying)
4. Ironing (iron)
5. Professional textile care (circle: dry cleaning and wet cleaning)

The 2023 edition added, among other changes, a hand-wash symbol at ambient temperature and an iron-without-steam symbol, and redrew several symbols to match the GINETEX graphics. If your care artwork is older, it is a good moment to update it. Use the symbols exactly as defined; do not redraw or restyle them.

Country of origin

Within the EU, a Made in statement on textiles is generally voluntary. If you do use one, it must be accurate and not misleading under consumer-protection law. Several export markets, including the United States, require country-of-origin marking on textile products, together with other information such as a manufacturer identifier. If you plan to sell outside the EU, collect those requirements before you design the label, because adding a line later means a new artwork and a new run.

Multilingual labels

Brands selling across Europe usually print one multilingual care label rather than one per country. Composition in eight to twenty languages takes space, which is why booklet care labels exist: several printed panels stacked and sewn together at one end. Another approach is to use language codes and very compact layouts, but legibility must not suffer. Our care labels range covers single-panel and booklet formats, and the label fold types guide explains how booklets are folded and sewn.

Placement and materials

The rule is that the label must be accessible and remain legible for the life of the product. In practice:

• Sew it into a side seam or the centre back neck seam where the consumer can find it.
• Choose a wash-resistant tape, typically polyester satin or nylon taffeta, printed with inks that survive repeated washing at the declared temperature.
• Use ultrasonically cut edges so the label does not scratch or fray, which reduces the temptation for consumers to cut it out.
• Keep the minimum text size readable; do not shrink composition text to fit too many languages on one panel.

For width and length choices, see the label size guide.

Common mistakes

• Using trade names or abbreviations instead of official fibre names.
• Percentages that do not add up to 100% or are not in descending order.
• Forgetting the animal-origin statement on garments with leather patches or fur trim.
• Missing the language of a market you actually sell into.
• Care symbols in the wrong order, redrawn, or contradicting the text.
• Printing on a tape or with an ink that fades before the garment wears out.
• Labelling only the shell fabric and forgetting the lining.

Practical checklist before you order

1. Fibre names from Annex I, percentages by weight, descending order.
2. Composition for each component, including the main lining.
3. Animal-origin statement where relevant.
4. All required languages for your sales countries.
5. Care symbols per ISO 3758:2023 in the correct order, plus matching text if you use it.
6. Country of origin and any extra data required by export markets.
7. Durable tape and print, suitable fold and size, placement agreed with your factory.

What comes next: the Digital Product Passport

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, (EU) 2024/1781, entered into force in July 2024, and textiles and apparel are among the first product groups the Commission is working on. A delegated act for textiles is expected in the coming years, with obligations applying some time after adoption. It is expected to require a Digital Product Passport: product data such as materials, origin, repair and recycling information, accessed through a data carrier such as a QR code on the product. The physical composition label will not disappear, but many brands are already planning labels that can carry a durable QR code. See our QR and DPP-ready labels to prepare.

Frequently asked questions