For garments exported to the US and EU, non-compliant labels can mean corrections, customs holds, fines or even full-order rejections. EU and US clothing label compliance is not complicated, but it is detail-heavy: what goes on the care label, which fibers go on the woven label, how to mark origin, and which care symbol standard to use.
This article maps the four most common threads: the US FTC care labeling rule, the EU fiber composition regulation, origin and size marking, and ISO 3758 care symbols — a reference for buyers and QC teams.
1. The US FTC Care Labeling Rule
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires garments to carry a permanent care label stating reasonable washing and care methods. Requirements include:
- The care label must be sewn in or attached so it survives normal use and repeated washing
- It must state reasonable care instructions: wash temperature, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry-cleaning
- Warnings such as 'Do not wash' must be stated when applicable
- The rule covers nearly all garments, with few exemptions such as socks
2. EU Fiber Composition Regulation
The EU textile labeling regulation (EU 1007/2011) requires: fiber names from the official EU list (e.g. cotton, polyester), percentages listed in descending weight order, and fibers below 5% may be grouped as 'other fibers'. Origin, care symbols and fiber content may be split across labels, but fiber content must be visible to consumers at the point of sale.
3. Origin & Size Marking
| Item | United States | European Union |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 'Made in China' is required; pairing with an RN number is recommended | 'Made in China' is required; language can follow the country of sale |
| Size | Usually XS-XL or numeric sizes | EN 13402 body measurement system is recommended |
4. Care Symbols: ISO 3758
Five symbol groups: washing (washtub), bleaching (triangle), drying (square), ironing (iron) and professional care (circle). A bar under a symbol means mild treatment; a cross means forbidden. Both US and EU markets accept ISO 3758 symbols; combining symbols with text is the safest approach.
5. Materials & Printing for Compliant Labels
- Use woven tape or coated tape for care labels so text survives repeated washing; transfer printing suits next-to-skin garments
- Main woven labels: satin or taffeta, with a clear brand name and size
- Keep text height at least 1.5mm and use light text on dark backgrounds for contrast
- Send label proofs to the customer or a third party for review before shipping — don't discover problems at port
Dongguan TAGE Packaging specializes in woven labels, care labels and hangtags, with typesetting and sampling to FTC and EU 1007/2011 standards — 3-7 day sampling, care labels from 300-500 pcs and woven labels from 1,000 pcs. Send us your compliance content and we will recommend materials and layouts.
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