Manufacturing & Engineering UK-wide

Textiles, clothing and leather manufacturer: compliance checklist

A verification checklist for makers of textiles, clothing and leather products (SIC divisions 13, 14 and 15). Use it to confirm that labelling, nightwear flammability, PPE conformity, general product safety, UK REACH restricted substances, CITES protected materials, environmental permits, trade effluent consent and animal by-products controls are all in place before a production run.

Guide summary

Use this checklist before each production run or export to check your textiles, clothing or leather products meet UK rules. You must label fibre and materials correctly, meet nightwear flammability standards, and make sure all products are safe. If you answer no to any item, follow the linked guidance before you continue.

  • Label each textile product with its fibre composition
  • Label each shoe with materials of upper, lining, insole and outsole
  • Make sure children's nightwear meets low-flammability standard BS 5722
  • Put 'KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE' label on adult nightwear that does not meet the standard
  • Complete conformity assessment and apply UKCA or CE mark for PPE
  • Check every product you place on the GB market is safe
  • Follow separate rules if you sell in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework
On this page

Related guides in General Compliance

Use this checklist to confirm that your textiles, clothing or leather business meets its obligations before a production run or export. Work through each item and answer yes or no. If you answer no to any item, follow the linked guide for that regime before you proceed. The product-facing rules apply when you place product on the GB market; in Northern Ireland the EU product rules apply under the Windsor Framework, so check the NI position separately.

Labelling and product safety

Confirm the labelling and safety rules for your products are met.

  1. 1

    Fibre and footwear composition labelling

    Have you labelled each textile product with its fibre composition, and each item of footwear with the materials of its upper, lining and insole, and outer sole?

  2. 2

    Nightwear flammability

    If you make nightwear, does children's nightwear meet the low-flammability standard (subject to limited exceptions such as certain babywear), and does adult nightwear either meet it or carry the prescribed 'KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE' warning?

  3. 3

    PPE conformity, if applicable

    If any garment or item of footwear is protective equipment, have you completed the conformity assessment, drawn up the declaration of conformity, and applied the UKCA or CE marking?

  4. 4

    General product safety baseline

    Whatever else applies, are you satisfied that each product you place on the GB market is safe under the general product safety requirement?

Restricted and protected materials

Confirm the chemicals and materials you use are within the rules.

  1. 1

    UK REACH restricted substances

    Have you assessed your dyes, finishes, tanning chemicals and inks against the UK REACH restrictions, including chromium VI in leather? UK REACH applies in Great Britain; in Northern Ireland, EU REACH applies under the Windsor Framework, so check the NI position separately.

  2. 2

    CITES protected materials

    If you use exotic leather, fur, feathers, shell or other materials from endangered species, do you hold the required CITES permits or certificates for importing, exporting or commercially using them?

Environmental controls for finishing and tanning

If you finish textiles or tan leather, confirm the wet-processing controls are in place.

  1. 1

    Environmental permit

    If your finishing or tanning activity is a listed installation, do you hold a current environmental permit from the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA or NIEA for your nation?

  2. 2

    Trade effluent consent

    If you discharge process water to the public sewer, do you hold trade effluent consent from your sewerage undertaker, and are you within its volume and composition limits?

  3. 3

    Animal by-products controls

    If you tan leather, do you handle raw hides and skins through approved collection, secure storage and the required commercial documents and records?

If you answered no to any item

Do not proceed with a production run or export until you have closed the gap. For labelling, nightwear and PPE, see the guide on placing textiles, clothing and footwear on the GB market. For UK REACH and CITES, see the guide on restricted and protected materials. For permits, trade effluent and animal by-products, see the guide on environmental permits and effluent controls for textile finishing and leather tanning. If you are unsure whether a regime applies, confirm it with the relevant regulator before you commit.

Official sources

Statutory sources and regulators for the textiles, clothing and leather sector