Compliance questions usually arrive late, after the design is approved and the price is agreed. That is the wrong order. If you resell sportswear into the EU or the US, the restricted substances in the fabric, the care label wording and the traceability information on the garment are things you answer for as the importer or brand owner. This guide covers what the main regulations require, which documents to request, and how to check them. It is not legal advice: requirements vary by market and product, so confirm the specifics with your supplier or importer.
Restricted substances: what REACH actually covers for a jersey
REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) is the EU chemicals framework that matters most for textiles. Three parts of it come up in almost every sportswear order.
The SVHC Candidate List. ECHA maintains the Candidate List of substances of very high concern, and it is updated regularly. Ask your factory for a test report that names the Candidate List version it tested against, because an older report may cover fewer substances than the list contains today.
Annex XVII entry 43. This entry restricts azo colourants in textile and leather articles that may come into direct and prolonged contact with the human skin or oral cavity. The testing methods for this entry were updated by Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/2096, which replaced outdated standards in Appendix 10 with current CEN methods. Ask which test method was used, not just whether the garment passed.
PFAS. Restrictions on C9 to C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids have applied since February 2023, and restrictions on PFHxA and its salts have applied since April 2026. A broad restriction proposal covering many PFAS uses was submitted by five national authorities in January 2023 and is still working through ECHA's committee process; the consultation on the draft SEAC opinion ran until 25 May 2026. ECHA lists textiles, leather and apparel among the major sectors using PFAS. If your order includes a water-repellent finish, ask in writing whether PFAS is used.
Fibre content and labelling: the EU and the US ask different questions
In the EU, fibre names and labelling are governed by Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011. Only the fibre names permitted by that regulation may be used on the label, and the European Commission is currently reviewing it. This is where unbranded factory wording fails: invented trade names are not legal fibre names, and percentages have to be accurate rather than approximate.
In the US, fibre content is covered by 16 CFR Part 303 and care labelling by 16 CFR Part 423. Both set out what must appear and how it must be attached, and care instructions must cover the routine care your garment needs. A label built for one market does not automatically work in the other, and language requirements differ as well. Check the current text of both rules for your product, or ask your importer to confirm the wording before the labels are printed.
Product safety and traceability: GPSR, CPSIA, and the DPP that is not here yet
The General Product Safety Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, has applied since 13 December 2024. It places supply-chain obligations on consumer products including apparel, which is why more EU buyers now ask for operator details and batch traceability data. If you sell into the EU, find out which role you hold, because obligations differ between manufacturer, importer and distributor. Confirm that with your importer rather than assuming.
In the US, if your product is a children's product, section 103 of the CPSIA requires a permanent distinguishing mark on the product and its packaging showing the manufacturer or importer, the location and date of production, and batch or cohort information. Where other children's product safety rules apply, a Children's Product Certificate may also be required. Youth sizing alone does not settle whether a product is a children's product; that depends on how it is designed, marketed and intended, so confirm the classification with your importer before you print labels.
Finally, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 on ecodesign is the legal basis for the Digital Product Passport. No textiles-specific delegated act has been adopted yet, so the passport is not mandatory for apparel today, but keep fibre composition, supplier and batch data in reusable form.
The document checklist to send your factory
Ask for documents, not assurances, and ask before production rather than after:
| Requested document | What it should show | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted substances test report | Candidate List version, lab, report number, sample tested | EU |
| Azo colourant test for Annex XVII entry 43 | which test method was used | EU |
| PFAS or water-repellent finish statement | whether PFAS is present in the finish | EU |
| Fibre composition and care instructions | exact percentages by legal fibre name, plus care wording | EU and US |
| CPSIA tracking label artwork | manufacturer or importer, production location and date, batch | US children's products |
| Batch traceability and QC records | what was produced when, and the inspection record for that run | all markets |
How to verify the documents you receive
A report you cannot trace is worth very little, and buyers get caught out by four things. Scope: reports are issued per material and per colour, so a report covering the black fabric says nothing about the white fabric, the print, the thread, the elastic or the trims. Ask the factory to state in writing which report covers which part of your order. Age: because the Candidate List changes, ask for the report date and agree with your importer how recent is recent enough. The lab and the number: reports should name an accredited laboratory and carry a report number your factory can re-issue, so if you only receive a badge or a logo, ask for the underlying report. The match: check that the sample described on the report is the article you are buying.
What we can produce when you ask
We would rather you asked early. Our minimum order is 10 pcs per design. A digital sample is free and usually ready in 3 to 5 days, with up to 5 rounds of revisions included; a physical sample takes about 7 days to make and costs US$15–50 per style, the sample fee is not deducted from your bulk order, and sample shipping is paid by the buyer. Bulk production runs 10 to 15 working days after the deposit is received and the design or sample is approved, and US school programs are usually planned 3 to 4 months ahead. See how custom orders work for the full sequence.
On chemicals we can send the actual documents: a REACH (EC 1907/2006) SVHC 242-item compliance test, report HUAX250512088KR, and a RoHS 2.0 (2011/65/EU) test, certificate HUAX250512089KC, both carried out by Shenzhen Huaxiang Testing in May 2025, with the factory audited on site by TÜV Rheinland. We tell you which report covers which material, and we re-issue documents on request. More on our factory and its audit history, or for brand-owner programmes, our private label and OEM guide.
Every order is inspected and ships with a QC report, and we retain batch samples so a reorder matches the colours of the original run. Sizes run from Adult S to 11XL and Youth YXS to XS, with custom sizing available. Shipping is usually by UPS or DHL in 5 to 10 days, the nearest port and airport are in Wuhan, and full container loads and consolidated shipments are available. If you are still choosing a production partner, start with how to vet a reliable custom sportswear factory.
One thing we will not do is tell you that a test report makes your product compliant. Compliance depends on how you market and sell the product, so that call belongs to you and your importer.
FAQ
How old can a restricted substances report be?
It depends on your market, your retailer and the current Candidate List. Ask for the report date and confirm with your importer how recent it has to be for your sales channel.
Does one report cover the whole jersey?
No. Testing is done per material and per colour, so ask for written confirmation of which report covers your fabric, print, thread and trims.
Do I need these documents for a small club order?
The obligations sit with the seller and apply whether you order 10 pieces or 10,000. If you are reselling, treat the documents as part of the order.
What if my supplier only sends a certificate logo?
Ask for the report behind it: laboratory name, report number, date, and the sample it tested.
Send us your sport, quantities and destination market, and we will tell you which documents we can provide for that order. Request a quote →
Prefer a one-page reference? Download the compliance document checklist (PDF) — what to request and how to verify it.