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Certifications You May Already Have — and How They Map to EU Rules

Many Indian textile exporters already hold industry schemes (OEKO-TEX, ZDHC, Better Cotton, GOTS, GRS, etc.). None of them replace EU regulations, but they overlap with evidence buyers need. Use this page to translate what you have into EU-facing documentation.

Not legal advice. Scopes differ by product, certificate version, and buyer. Always read the certificate scope and keep test reports and audit summaries ready.

OEKO-TEX (e.g. Standard 100, STeP, Eco Passport)

What it is: Third-party testing and certification for harmful substances in textiles and, for STeP, environmental and social performance at facility level.

EU overlap:

  • REACH / restricted substances — A Standard 100 certificate supports evidence for consumer safety, but it is not identical to REACH Annex XVII or SVHC notification rules. You may still need supplier declarations, SDS, and substance tracking beyond the certificate scope.
  • Green claims — Do not overclaim: “OEKO-TEX certified” must match label grade and product class.

Tip: Store certificate number, exact article description, and testing labs; renew before expiry.

ZDHC (MRSL / wastewater / Gateway)

What it is: Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) and tools aimed at cleaner chemistry in wet processing.

EU overlap:

  • REACH — MRSL alignment helps upstream chemical management; it does not automatically prove finished article compliance. Pair with RSL testing on finished goods and trims.
  • Buyer questionnaires — Often requested alongside wastewater or chemical inventory data.

Better Cotton Initiative (BCI / Better Cotton)

What it is: Farm-level programme for more sustainable cotton sourcing (mass-balance chain of custody models vary).

EU overlap:

  • EUDR — Cotton is not a listed EUDR commodity in the same way as wood/rubber/cattle; keep farm/country traceability for buyer sustainability and due diligence even when EUDR is not the lead rule.
  • Green claims — Only claim “Better Cotton” per programme claims rules.

GOTS / GRS / other chain-of-custody schemes

  • GOTS — Strong on organic and restricted chemistry for certified goods; maps well to buyer RSL expectations; still complement with REACH SVHC communication where applicable.
  • GRS / RCS — Evidence for recycled content claims; align with DPP / buyer recycled-content verification.

Institutional context in India

Exporters often work through AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council), TEXPROCIL (cotton textiles), and regional associations. They are not EU regulators, but they channel market intelligence and buyer requirements—use them alongside this site and your importer’s compliance team.

What Should You Do Next?

Match your certificates to EU buyer expectations with a free compliance assessment.