What You Need to Export Textiles to the EU

To sell textiles in the European Union, your products must clear four essential compliance checks before shipment. These requirements apply to every single consignment—no exceptions.

1. Get the Right TARIC Code

Your textiles need a TARIC code—a numerical classification that determines:

How much duty you'll pay at the border
Which EU regulations apply to your specific products
Whether you qualify for preferential trade terms under India-EU agreements

Getting this wrong can delay your shipment, cost you extra in tariffs, or trigger regulatory holds. Use the EU’s customs duties / classification guidance and the interactive TARIC consultation to classify your items, or work with a customs broker before you ship.

2. Prove Your Products' Origin

The EU wants to know where your textiles were made. This affects:

Whether you get preferential duty rates once the India–EU FTA is in force and your goods meet rules of origin (the agreement is not yet in force as of early 2026—until ratification, plan for standard EU tariffs)
Your country-of-origin label requirements
Trade quota eligibility

Document the location where your textiles were "substantially transformed"—that's where the majority of the production happened. Gather evidence from your suppliers and manufacturers showing inputs and processing. See the Commission’s preferential origin pages and your customs broker for the rules that will apply to your trade programme.

3. Get Your Labels Right

Every textile shipped to the EU needs a permanent, legible label showing:

Exact fibre breakdown – List all natural and synthetic fibres in descending order by weight (e.g., "85% Cotton, 15% Elastane"). Use standard fibre names and keep percentages accurate to within ±3%.
Where it was made – The country of manufacture.
Your details – Your company name and address (or your EU importer's details).
Care instructions – How to wash and care for the product.
Language – In the language of the country you're selling to.

Labels must be permanently attached—not glued on loosely. Check your compliance with EU Regulation 1007/2011.

4. Confirm No Banned Chemicals

The EU's REACH regulation strictly controls harmful chemicals in textiles. Before you ship, you must verify that your products are free from:

Azo dyes that release cancer-causing amines
Excess formaldehyde
Heavy metals like lead or cadmium
Banned plasticizers (phthalates)
Other restricted substances

Get signed declarations from your dyeing, finishing, and trim suppliers confirming they use compliant materials. For items in direct contact with skin (baby clothes, intimate wear), you'll need third-party lab test reports. If your products contain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), you must disclose them to customers upon request.

Do not ship anything until chemical compliance is confirmed in writing.

Why This Matters

These four checks form the foundation of EU textile trade. Skip any one of them, and your shipment can be detained at customs, rejected by buyers, or hit with fines. This is non-negotiable—it applies to every product, every time, regardless of volume or buyer size.

Once these baseline requirements are met, you'll need to assess additional sustainability regulations based on your specific products. See the Sustainability Requirements section for details.

What Should You Do Next?

Check your export baseline (TARIC, origin, labels, REACH) with a free compliance assessment.