Brazil’s National Institute of Technology, Normalisation and Industrial Quality (INMETRO) issued in April a regulation (INMETRO Directive 166/2011) that establishes a standardised procedure for Brazilian government agencies to collect textile and apparel samples in order to ensure their compliance with all applicable labelling requirements, sources reported.

In general, inspections should be performed in storage, transportation, exhibit or sale facilities under the surveillance of a public official. After assessing compliance with the required labelling information, fiscal agents may collect a sample of the product to ensure the veracity of the fibre composition and fabric characteristics.

The sampling size varies depending on the product and ranges from one to three pieces for apparel, three pieces for intimate apparel, six pairs for socks and gloves, and one piece for trimmings. The sample size for yarn and fabric varies depending on the type of test to be performed.

A fibre composition test for a yarn would require enough yarn to contain at least 20 grams while a test to determine yarn size would require at least two kilometres of yarn.

Brazilian authorities issued Resolution 2/2008 in May 2008 to implement MERCOSUR GMC Resolution 33/2007 establishing labelling requirements for textiles and apparel. Labelling requirements vary depending on the product. In the case of apparel, subject merchandise must generally include the following information in a label, stamp, decal, print or similar means that is permanent, indelible, legible and clearly visible: (i) name or registered brand and tax identification of the domestic producer or importer; (ii) country of origin; (iii) fibre content (fibres accounting for less than ten percent of the total may be listed as “other fibre(s)”); (iv) care labelling instructions; and (v) size or dimensions, as applicable. This information has to be presented in the language of the country of consumption (Portuguese in the case of Brazil) but may also be presented in another language(s).

Certain textile and apparel articles sold in packages are allowed to bear the required information on or inside their packaging instead of on the article itself if that information can be seen from the outside. These articles include fabric diapers, handkerchiefs, napkins, bibs, hosiery and socks, gloves, garments made with raschel-type machines, crocheted bedspreads, mosquito nets and seamless products.

If the package contains more than one item, the number of units and the fact that those items cannot be sold separately will have to be clearly stated. Textile products made with compact fabric obtained by overlaying carded voiles may bear the required information on their packaging. Textile and apparel products sold in airtight packages whose labelling information is not visible from the outside must include at a minimum the following information on their packaging: the fibre composition, the country of origin and the size or dimension.