While the mantra for many stylish consumers is form over function, some fashionistas draw the line if the garment in question contains authentic fur or leather, whether for ethical or health reasons, and seek faux alternatives. With modern textile technology, faux furs and leathers look and feel realistic, making it difficult for consumers to discern the difference.

Beginning soon, European consumers will be able to flaunt their fashion with confidence by taking a simple peek at the label as a result of the recent approval of new textile labelling rules for fur and leather. To help manufacturers and retailers ensure their garments comply with these new regulations, Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries, offers customized textile quality and composition testing such as fibre analysis and labelling services.

On 11th May 2011, the European Parliament approved the new textile labelling rules for fur and leather as an amendment to the existing legislation, making it mandatory to identify any non-textile part of animal origin that may be included in a product. Any use of animal-derived materials will have to be clearly stated on textile product labels, by displaying the wording "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin."

These changes to the legislation will enable consumers to easily identify whether a garment contains authentic or faux fur and leather, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions. The change will also benefit allergy sufferers, for whom fur and the chemicals involved in its processing are a potential health hazard.

“Retailers will need to be certain about the content of the trims and decorations on their garments because of this legislation,” says Mike Redshaw, European Technical Knowledge Manager for Intertek’s Consumer Goods business stream. “Intertek provides consultancy solutions such as claims verification and advisory services to ensure labelling requirements are met to help retailers achieve compliance with the new rules.”

The new textile labelling rules must still be formally signed by the Member States. The new regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal. There is expected to be a minimum of a two-year transition period for the labelling requirements to allow the industry time to adapt.