OEKO-TEX Updates Standards Effective October 2025 To Align With EU Rules
OEKO-TEX has announced a series of updates to its certification standards, coming into effect on October 6, 2025, in line with new European Union regulations on chemicals and consumer safety.
Key changes include the introduction of stricter limits on PFOS and related substances across multiple certifications. The PFOS limit value is now set at 25 µg/kg for Standard 100, organic cotton and Eco Passport, while PFOS-related substances carry a limit of 1 mg/kg under Standard 100 and organic cotton.
Two new substances of very high concern (SVHCs) have also been added with a limit of 1000 mg/kg:
- Decamethyltetrasiloxane (CAS: 141-62-8)
- 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-Heptamethyl-3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]trisiloxane (CAS: 17928-28-8)
In addition, OEKO-TEX has strengthened restrictions on biologically active products (biocides) in its Standard 100 certification. Since April 2025, the use of all biocides has been banned in articles for babies and items with mucous contact, due to their potential negative effects on human health. These products, designed to kill or inhibit harmful organisms, will now be explicitly highlighted as prohibited in the standard.
Further updates include:
- Eco Passport: From January 2026, a new hydrolysis testing method for PFAS detection will be introduced, building on methods already adopted in Standard 100 testing in 2024.
- Biodegradability requirement: Certain chemical products under Eco Passport must now demonstrate biodegradability through OECD/ISO testing or provide a self-declaration. Certificates will only list biodegradability if OECD/ISO test results are supplied. Substances already recognised as biodegradable by ECHA will be exempt from additional testing.
The updates reinforce OEKO-TEX’s ongoing efforts to tighten chemical safety requirements in textiles, apparel and chemical products, while aligning global certification schemes with evolving EU regulatory frameworks.
