INTRODUCTION TO STANDARDS AND THEIR PLACE IN THE TEXTILE AND FASHION INDUSTRY Alison Scotland National Sector Manager Standards Australia 23 September 2016
Standards Australia PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Standards Australia overview What are standards and how are they developed? Engagement and participation national and international The regulatory framework Some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses
WHO IS STANDARDS AUSTRALIA?
Who is Standards Australia? STANDARDS AUSTRALIA FORMED 1922 Independent, not-for-profit, non-government Represents Australia at ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) and IEC (International Technological Commission) Recovers a small royalty on sale of Australian Standards Driven by adding Net Benefit to Australia A trusted partner of government, industry and the community Agenda and priorities driven by stakeholders
Who is Standards Australia? OUR NOMINATING ORGANISATIONS CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS DEVELOPING STANDARDS
Who is Standards Australia? STANDARDS AUSTRALIA What we do Facilitate the development of internationally harmonised Standards and other solutions that make a positive contribution to Australia What we don t do Make laws or regulations Test or certify products or systems
Who is Standards Australia?
Who is Standards Australia? ACCREDITATION PATHWAY Accreditation as a Standards Development Organisation (SDO), affords the accredited organisation in Australia the opportunity to prepare and maintain standards for approval and publication as Australian Standard brand standards.
WHAT ARE STANDARDS?
What are standards? WHAT IS A STANDARD? Standards are a voluntary, consensus solutions They document an agreement on how a material, product, process, or service should specified, perform or be delivered They provide a common and repeatable basis for doing things and help bring order to the world
What are standards? AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS
What are standards? TYPES OF STANDARDS Product standards Process standards Management system standards Services standards
What are standards? A BUSINESS CASE FOR STANDARDS Trust and Recognition Economies of Scale Access to Global Markets Consumer Confidence Level Playing Field
What are standards? PAST EVIDENCE Standards engaged Standards not engaged
HOW ARE STANDARDS DEVELOPED?
How are standards developed? PROJECT PROPOSAL PROCESS All projects are initiated through a project proposal Two Pathways Standards Australia resourced Externally funded MAY APPROVAL NOVEMBER APPROVAL
How are standards developed? PROPOSAL PROCESS Clear Project Scope Net Benefit Case Stakeholder Support
How are standards developed? STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Ballot Finalisation Public Consultation Drafting Project Proposal
ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
Engagement and Participation STANDARDS COMMITTEES Sub Committee Technical Committee - Nominated Individuals - Responsible for Subject Matter - Technical Experts - Major Sections of Work Working Group - Small Group(s) - Dedicated tasks
Engagement and Participation
Engagement and Participation INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Multi-discipline and cross-sector, including conformity assessment International Electrotechnological Commission (IEC) Electro-technology, including medical devices
Engagement and Participation HOW ELSE CAN YOU PARTICIPATE? Questions / Interpretation Public Comment Proposing changes Aged Standards
www.standards.org.au FOLLOW US
AUSTRALIA S TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Australia s Technical Infrastructure ONE SOLUTION MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS Parliamentary democracy with monarchy as Head of State 3 tiers of government Federal Six States and Two Territories 654 Local Councils Multiple regulatory authorities sometimes with conflicting objectives
Australia s Technical Infrastructure ARE STANDARDS LAW? Standards Australia
Australia s Technical Infrastructure VOLUNTARY VS. MANDATORY Voluntary www.productsafety.gov.au Mandatory
Australia s Technical Infrastructure MANDATORY STANDARDS Safety Standards Require goods to comply with particular performance, composition, contents, methods of manufacture or processing, design, construction, finish or packaging rules. Goal is to protect consumers from hazards Information Standards Require suppliers to give consumers prescribed information when they purchase specified goods Goal is to ensure that consumers are provided with important details of a product to enable information and choice
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAIN STANDARDS THAT IMPACT FASHION BUSINESSES?
What are some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses? CS-004 LABELLING OF TEXTILES Scope Currently inactive Standards AS/NZS 2622-1996 Textile products - Fibre content labelling AS/NZS 1957-1998 Textiles - Care labelling AS/NZS 2621-1998 Textiles - Guide to the selection of correct care labelling instructions from AS/NZS 1957 AS/NZS 2392-1999 Textiles - Labelling of clothing, household textiles and furnishings AS/NZS 2450-1994 Textiles - Natural and man-made fibres - Generic names
What are some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses? CS-086 BURNING BEHAVIOUR OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS Standards AS/NZS 1249:2014 Children s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard AS 2404-1980 Textile floor coverings - Fire propagation of the usesurface using a small ignition source AS 2755.1-1985 Textile fabrics - Burning behaviour - Determination of ease of ignition of vertically oriented specimens AS 2755.2-1985 Textile fabrics - Burning behaviour - Measurement of flame spread properties of vertically oriented specimens AS 2755.3-1988 Textile fabrics - Determination of burning behaviour - Determination of surface burning time AS/NZS 2111.18-1997 Textile floor coverings - Tests and measurements - Burning behaviour - Tablet test at ambient temperature
What are some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses? CS-092 SIZING SYSTEMS FOR CLOTHING Scope International participation in ISO/TC 133 Clothing sizing systems - size designation, size measurement methods and digital fittings Standards AS 1182-1997 Size coding scheme for infants' and children's clothing - Underwear and outerwear Some withdrawn standards also Possible opportunities to participate in the development of and then adopt international standards
What are some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses? SF-004 OCCUPATIONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Scope Standardization in the field of occupational protective apparel used for industrial activities. Includes guidance for selection, use and maintenance of such apparel Participation (along with SF-049) in ISO/TC 94, SC13 and SC 14 Standards AS/NZS 4501.1 AS/NZS 4602.1 AS/NZS 4602.2 AS/NZS ISO 2081 Etc.
What are some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses? SF-049 FIREFIGHTERS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Scope Participation (along with SF-004) in ISO/TC 94, SC14, Firefighters personal equipment Australia holds the Secretariat and Chair position Standards AS/NZS 4967 (Clothing) AS/NZS 4821 (Footwear) AS/NZS 2161.6 (Gloves) AS/NZS 4067 (Helmets)
What are some of the main standards that impact fashion businesses? TEXTILE COMMITTEES Active technical committees TX-004 Ropes And Cordage TX-008 Textiles for Horticulture and Agriculture TX-009 Carpets TX-020 Testing Of Textiles TX-021 Sun Protective Clothing
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alison.scotland@standards.org.au THANK YOU