GB18401-2010
National general safety technical code for textile products
国家纺织产品基本安全技术规范
GB 18401-2010 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for National general safety technical code for textile products. It appears in the Electronics compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Aug 1, 2011.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to textile products produced and sold within China for clothing, decoration, and household use. Export products can follow the terms agreed upon in the contract. It does not apply to specific categories listed in the appendix, such as geotextiles, medical textiles, and packaging products.
Technical requirements
This standard specifies the mandatory safety technical specifications for textile products to ensure they are harmless to human health. Products are classified into three categories based on end-use: Class A (infant products), Class B (products with direct skin contact), and Class C (products without direct skin contact). Manufacturers must clearly label the safety category on the product's instruction label. The standard sets strict limits on formaldehyde content and pH value across all three categories. It also mandates specific colorfastness grades for resistance to water, perspiration, friction, and saliva. Infant textile products must meet the stringent Class A requirements and be explicitly labeled as infant use. Additionally, the standard prohibits the use of decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes and mandates that textiles must be free of any peculiar odors. Appendix C provides a comprehensive list of 24 banned carcinogenic aromatic amines, with a strict limit value.
Testing methods
Testing procedures involve evaluating formaldehyde content via water extraction method and measuring pH value from aqueous extract. Colorfastness is assessed through standardized tests for water, acid/alkali perspiration, dry friction, and saliva. Odor detection employs an olfactory method conducted by trained professionals. Finally, the determination of banned aromatic amines is executed using specific chromatographic techniques referenced in GB/T 17592 and GB/T 23344.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 18401-2010?
It applies to textile products produced and sold in China for clothing, decoration, and household use. Export products can follow the terms agreed upon in the contract. Certain items like medical textiles, packaging products, and carpets are excluded.
Are there any updates from the previous version of GB 18401?
The 2010 version expanded the definition of infants from 24 months to 36 months. It also adjusted the pH value limits for Class B products, added 4-aminoazobenzene to the list of banned carcinogenic aromatic amines, and clarified exemptions for traditional hand-colored products.
How does GB 18401-2010 differ from ISO standards?
While it references several ISO standards for testing methods (such as ISO 14184.1 for formaldehyde), GB 18401 establishes mandatory safety categories (Class A, B, C) specific to the Chinese market. Compliance with this national standard is strictly enforced for domestic sales.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 18401-2010. To ensure complete compliance for your products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 18401-2010 today to access all detailed parameters, tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Safety
- CCS
- W09
- ICS
- 59.080.01
- Competent department
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
- Technical committee
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
Relationships
Replaces:GB 18401-2003