Consumer watchdog targets fashion labels

NATIONAL: Mandatory care labelling on clothing and textiles could soon be a thing of the past with a review into current legislation proposing several repeal or amendment options.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is in the process of consulting major industry players such as Myer, Target, Big W and Australian Wool Innovation on whether a voluntary code should be reintroduced.

The mandatory national standard has been in place for 30 years, replacing an informal code developed in the 1960s when synthetic textiles first flooded the domestic fashion market.

Labelling is intended to provide consumers with care instructions for garments, as well as inform dry cleaners and launderers on appropriate cleaning methods.

According to an ACCC consultation paper, the current system is considered “complex and lengthy”, with total measures spanning 33 pages and featuring multiple inclusions and exemptions.

“Complexity in the standard may in some cases contribute to garments having inappropriate or over-cautious labelling such as ‘dry clean only’ to avoid having to comprehend and comply with other aspects of the care labelling standard,” the paper noted.

“Compliance costs impact more heavily on the smaller suppliers with limited access to compliance resources, adding substantially to production costs and reducing margins.”

Current systems in Europe, Asia and America allow for ‘symbol only’ labelling, which indicates methods for properly cleaning garments through symbols for washing, ironing and dry cleaning. Excessive regulations in Australia could make labelling compliance too difficult for overseas suppliers, the paper said.

The ACCC has proposed four options as part of its review: repeal national mandatory standards in favour of self-regulation; simplify existing legislation to allow for symbol-only labelling and/or “adequate” care instructions; maintain the current mandatory system; or regulate fibre content labelling only.

The latter ensures consumers avoid garments and textiles that can provoke allergic reactions.

The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA), which has been approached as part of ACCC’s consultation process, has warned industry to “proceed with caution”. TFIA executive director Jo Kellock said consumers should expect garments to have a reasonable life span and contain clear, easy to read and informative labels.

She also believed ecological imperatives tied to labelling – such as minimum temperatures to ensure consumers use less energy when laundering garments – need to be considered.

“Treating clothing as a disposable item runs counter to everything we are being told about the harmful effects of overconsumption, poor quality and waste,” she said. “Care labelling costs are insignificant compared to potential costs on the environment and consumer dissatisfaction with industry if legislation is removed.”  ACCC consultations close on November 27, 2009.

Assia Benmedjdoub