Textiles REACH European markets

Shirley Technologies Ltd., Leeds, England, offers new textile testing services to screen for substances of very high concern (SVHC) in garments, fabric, thread or other components of the textile product supply chain. The European Union law that requires companies to be responsible for chemicals used in product manufacture—Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals, or REACH—requires companies outside the EU to inform European buyers of the status of harmful substances within products. The law also allows consumers to request levels of SVHC from retailers, and the retailer has a legal obligation to reply within 45 days. Shirley Technologies is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and provides independent textile testing, certification, advisory and investigation services.