OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 New Limits and Restrictions

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 Regulatory Rationale

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is an independent certification system under which textiles from yarns to finished articles are tested for harmful substances [1], [4]. As explicitly stressed in standard documents, STANDARD 100 is not a quality assurance certificate or broad sustainability label; it is a technical safety document proving that hazardous chemical substances potentially harmful to human health have been audited through laboratory analyses [1], [4].
The system evaluates textile products under four separate product classes according to degree of contact with the human body [1], [4]. Product Class I covers infant and children's articles up to 3 years of age and features the strictest threshold limits [1], [4]. Product Class II covers articles with direct skin contact such as bed sheets and duvet covers [1], [4]. Product Class III is for items without direct skin contact [1]. Product Class IV covers home textiles and decorative furnishings including curtains, upholstery and table linen [1], [4].

2026 New Limits and Chemical Restrictions

Under the regulatory update binding as of June 1, 2026, the threshold limit for bisphenol B, bisphenol F, bisphenol S and bisphenol AF has been lowered to 200 mg/kg [2]. In addition, threshold limits for p-Anisidine and TPP (triphenyl phosphate) have been revised [2].
Since 2023, OEKO-TEX has prohibited intentional use of PFAS under STANDARD 100; limit values are enforced for trace contamination [2], [5].

Flame Retardants and Certification Cycle

For home textile and curtain producers, deployment of flame retardant (FR) chemicals is subject to specific mandates [2], [3]. Flame retardant and PFAS rules are identical across all product classes without exception from Class I to Class IV [2], [4]. Flame retardant substances utilized in fabrics must be evaluated and accepted beforehand by OEKO-TEX [3], [4]. Flame retardant agents listed in Annex 5 of the standard (e.g. PBB, PBDE, HBCDD and TCEP) are strictly banned [3], [4].
The certification process is administered by authorized OEKO-TEX institutes such as Hohenstein and Centexbel [7]. Issued certificates remain valid for 1 year and are renewed annually through re-testing of samples [1]. Manufacturers wishing to certify that facilities operate in accordance with eco-friendly and socially responsible conditions can apply for the MADE IN GREEN label [9]. Buyers can verify the certificate number printed on product labels online via the OEKO-TEX Label Check portal [10].