Specifications on Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather

Preface

According to the processing characteristics of leather manufacturing, the specification sets out regulations on various kinds of Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather mainly from following aspects:

1. To enable the domestic leather industry to adapt to international rules, apart from regulations on ordinary physical and chemical indexes of leather, the standard stressed regulations on hexavalent-chromium, forbidden azo-dyes, free formaldehyde, and PCP that possibly exist in leather.

2. The requirements for and testing method of ordinary physical and chemical indexes should follow corresponding industrial standards and national standards of QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, QB/T 3812, and so on, and the sampling should follow regulations in QB/T 3812 while the testing method of special chemical indexes adopts relevant German standard and the sampling follows 5.2.1 of the specification hereby.

1. Subject Content and Scope of Application

The specification hereby regulates on product classification, technical requirements, experiment method, testing rules, mark, packaging, transport, and storage of all kinds of Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather.

The specification hereby is applicable to various kinds of grain leather which is tanned with various processes and tanning agents, including garment leather, shoe upper leather, furniture leather as well as glove leather , bags and cases leather, upholstery leather, etc.

2. Quoted Standard

The articles in following standards become those of the specification hereby through its quotation and the latest version of the quoted documents should be applicable to the specification hereby. As long as any national or industrial standard of other kind of leather in future will also be applicable to the specification hereby if the kind of leather is contained within the scope of Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather.

GB/T 4694 Packaging, Marking, Transporting, and storing of Finished Leather

QB/T 3812 Testing Method of Physical and Chemical Properties of Finished Leather

QB/T 1872 Garment Leather

QB/T 1873 Shoe upper Leather

GB/T 16799 Furniture Leather

DIN 53313 Testing of PCP in Leather

DIN 53314 Testing of Hexavalent-chromium in Leather

DIN 53315 Testing of Formaldehyde in Leather

DIN 53316 Testing of Aromatic Amine in Leather

3. Classification of Leather

Classification of leather should be in accordance with industrial or national standards such as QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, and GB/T 16799.

4. Technical Requirements

4.1. Ordinary Physical and Chemical Indexes and Organ Sense Requirements

The ordinary physical and chemical indexes and organ sense requirements should conform to industrial or national standards such as QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, and GB/T 16799, etc..

4.2. Special Chemical Indexes should Conform to the Requirements in Table 1.

Table 1

Indexes Highest limit, mg/kg

Direct contact with skin Ordinary

Formaldehyde 75 150

CrⅥ 5

PCP 5

23 kinds of aromatic amine

(refer to appendix table A.1) 30

5. Experiment Method

5.1. Ordinary Physical and Chemical Indexes as well as Appearance Inspection

The sampling should follow QB/T 3812 while the testing of ordinary physical and chemical indexes and appearance inspection should follow QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, and GB/T 16799.

5.2. Special Chemical Indexes

5.2.1. Sampling

Take leather sample in 20×25cm2 from side of finished leather for testing of special chemical indexes.

5.2.2. Testing of PCP content

Follow DIN 53313.

5.2.3. Testing of hexavalent-chromium

Follow DIN 53314.

5.2.4. Testing of formaldehyde

Follow DIN 53315.

5.2.5. Testing of azo-dyes content

Follow DIN 53316.

6. Inspection Rules

6.1. Ordinary Physical and Chemical Indexes

Batching and inspection should be made according to industrial standards or national standards such as QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, and GB/T 16799, etc..

6.2. Special Chemical Indexes

The leather samples should, after passing inspection according to item 6.1, undergo inspection of special chemical indexes. If all of them conform to table 1, the batch of leather possesses the qualification for the mark of Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather.

6.3. Inspection

6.3.1. Inspection should be made in any of following conditions:

a) Significant change of process, chemicals, and leather kind;

b) Restart production after stop for long period

c) Relevant supervision units ask for inspection.

d) Inspection should be made once a year under normal production.

6.3.2. Sampling quantity

Three pieces should be chosen at random from each batch of leather for inspection.

6.3.3. Qualification judgment

6.3.3.1. Principle of judging one piece

First judge the qualification of ordinary physical and chemical indexes according to industrial standards or national standards such as QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, and GB/T 16799, etc., then that of special chemical indexes. If ordinary physical and chemical indexes are qualified while special chemical indexes fail the specification, the samples should be retested. If the result still fails the specification hereby or shows serious defect affecting the use, this piece of leather should be judged unqualified.

6.3.3.2. Principle of batch judgment

Judge the qualification of ordinary physical and chemical indexes of the whole batch according to industrial standards or national standards such as QB/T 1872, QB/T 1873, and GB/T 16799 etc.. If ordinary physical and chemical indexes are qualified while the special chemical indexes of any one piece (or above) fail the specification, another six pieces should be taken for retesting. If the six pieces are all qualified, the batch of leather should be judged qualified.

7. Marking, Packaging, Transport, and Storage

Regulations in GB/T 4694 should be met. In addition, the mark of Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather should be stamped on the right flesh side of the butt of each piece of leather that qualified for the “Specification on Genuine Leather Mark Eco-Leather”.