[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/US Textiles Compliance USTextiles # FTC Textile Labeling Requirements and US Textile Regulations: Fiber, Origin, Care and Flammability Under FTC textile labeling requirements, clothing and most household textiles sold in the US must show fiber content (generic names, percentage by weight), country of origin, and the company name or RN of a responsible business. Apparel also needs a permanent care label, and wool products follow the Wool Products Labeling Act. Separately, the CPSC requires clothing fabrics to pass flammability standards, with much stricter rules and third-party testing for children's products. This guide covers every label element, the tests behind them, and the paperwork importers now have to file. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fus-textiles-compliance) At a glance Label must show Fiber %, origin, name or RN Care label 16 CFR 423 (apparel) Flammability 16 CFR 1610 (clothing) Children's CPSIA testing + CPC FAQs 8 ## US textile regulations at a glance Rule Regulation Covers Requires Textile Fiber Products Identification Act 16 CFR Part 303 (FTC) Apparel and listed household textiles: bedding, towels, curtains, table linen, floor coverings, fabrics and yarns Fiber content, country of origin, RN or company name Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 16 CFR Part 300 (FTC) Products containing any wool (with some exclusions such as carpets and upholstery) Same three disclosures, with wool and recycled wool named separately Care Labeling Rule 16 CFR Part 423 (FTC) Textile wearing apparel and fabric sold by the piece to home sewers Permanent label with regular care instructions and warnings Flammable Fabrics Act standards 16 CFR 1610, 1611, 1615, 1616, 1630-1633, 1640 (CPSC) Clothing textiles, vinyl film, children's sleepwear, carpets and rugs, mattresses, upholstered furniture Passing test results and a certificate of compliance CPSIA (children's products) 15 U.S.C. 2063, 16 CFR 1107, 1109 (CPSC) Textile products designed mainly for children 12 and under Third-party testing, Children's Product Certificate, tracking label ## Textile labeling elements (16 CFR 303) Fiber content List each fiber by its generic name (cotton, polyester, nylon, spandex) with its percentage by weight, in order of predominance. A trademark can appear next to the generic name in the same type size, but never on its own. Fibers under 5% are shown as "other fiber" unless they have a clear functional purpose, such as "96% acetate, 4% spandex". Linings, interlinings and trims follow separate rules. Country of origin Imported products must name the country where they were processed or manufactured, using US Customs origin rules. Products made in the USA from US materials say "Made in USA". Products made in the USA from imported materials must say so, for example "Made in USA of imported fabric". Manufacturer or dealer identity Show either the name under which the responsible company does business (manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer) or its FTC Registered Identification Number (RN). RNs are issued only to businesses located in the United States. Placement and durability Labels must be conspicuous and stay attached until the product reaches the consumer. On garments with a neck, the country of origin must be on the front of a label at the inside center of the neck, midway between the shoulder seams, or next to another label in that spot. Fiber content and identity can be on the same label or on another readily accessible label. Online and catalog listings Mail order, catalog and website descriptions must disclose whether the product was made in the USA, imported, or both. Fiber content claims in ads must follow the same generic-name rules as the label. Customs marking rules for the origin itself are covered in our [US country of origin marking guide](/guides/us-cbp-country-of-origin-marking). ## Wool products Products containing wool follow the Wool Products Labeling Act and 16 CFR Part 300, which mirror the textile rules: fiber content, origin and identity. The label must separate "wool" (never used before) from "recycled wool". Specialty fibers such as cashmere, mohair, camel hair and alpaca can be named instead of "wool" if they meet the definition; cashmere, for example, must have an average fiber diameter of no more than 19 microns. Wool suit fabric descriptions like "Super 120s" must match the average fiber diameter set by the Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness Act. ## Care labeling requirements (16 CFR 423) Care labels must be permanently attached, legible for the life of the product, and easy to find at the point of sale. If packaging hides the label, repeat the care information on the package or a hang tag. Footwear, gloves and hats are outside the rule, as are products sold to institutional buyers for commercial use. Washing or drycleaning The label needs a washing instruction or a drycleaning instruction. If either method is safe, one is enough. Washing instructions must say machine or hand wash and give a water temperature, unless hot water (up to 145°F / 63°C) is safe. Drying State machine drying or another method (line dry, dry flat). For machine drying, give a temperature unless high heat is safe. Ironing Mention ironing only if it is regularly needed, or to warn against it. If you mention it, give a temperature unless a hot iron is safe. Bleaching No mention is needed if all bleaches are safe. Otherwise use "Do not bleach" or "Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed". Warnings and evidence Warn against any part of the stated procedure that would harm the product, for example "Wash with like colors" or "Do not iron". You must have a reasonable basis, such as test results, for every instruction. ASTM D5489 care symbols may be used in place of words. ## Flammability standards (CPSC) ### 16 CFR Part 1610: clothing textiles A 45-degree burn test that classes fabrics as Class 1 (normal), Class 2 (intermediate, raised-surface fabrics only) or Class 3 (rapid and intense burning). Class 3 fabrics cannot be used in clothing. Hats, gloves up to 14 inches, footwear and interlinings are outside the standard. Plain-surface fabrics of 2.6 oz/yd² or more, and fabrics made entirely of acrylic, modacrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester or wool, are exempt from testing to support a guaranty. **Applies to:** Adult and children's clothing and fabrics intended for clothing ### 16 CFR Part 1611: vinyl plastic film Burn-rate requirement for vinyl plastic film used in wearing apparel, such as raincoats. **Applies to:** Clothing made with vinyl film ### 16 CFR Parts 1615 and 1616: children's sleepwear Strict vertical flame tests for sleepwear in sizes 0 to 6X (Part 1615) and 7 to 14 (Part 1616), including after 50 wash cycles. Tight-fitting sleepwear that meets the dimensional limits, and garments for infants of 9 months or younger, are exempt but have their own labeling rules. **Applies to:** Pajamas, nightgowns, robes and similar items for children ### 16 CFR Parts 1630 to 1633 and 1640 Surface flammability (pill test) for carpets and rugs, cigarette and open-flame tests for mattresses, and the upholstered furniture smolder standard that adopted California TB 117-2013. **Applies to:** Carpets, rugs, mattresses and upholstered furniture ## Children's textiles and CPSIA Clothing, bedding and other textiles designed mainly for children 12 and under are children's products. They need testing by a CPSC-accepted third-party lab for every applicable rule, a Children's Product Certificate, and permanent tracking information on the product and packaging. Typical tests are lead content (100 ppm) in non-textile parts such as snaps, zippers and buttons, lead in paint and screen prints (90 ppm), and flammability. CPSC has determined that natural fibers and many manufactured fibers do not exceed the lead limits (16 CFR 1500.91), so plain fabric usually needs no lead test. For the full process, see our [CPSIA children's products guide](/guides/us-cpsia-children-products). ## Worked example: an imported T-shirt 01 Front of neck label: "Made in Vietnam" (country of origin must be on the front). 02 Same or nearby label: "60% Cotton, 35% Polyester, 5% Spandex" (generic names, by weight, largest first). 03 Identity: "RN 123456" for a US importer, or the company name for a foreign brand without an RN. 04 Care label, permanent: "Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, only non-chlorine bleach when needed, do not iron print". 05 Paperwork behind it: Part 1610 test report or exemption basis and a General Certificate of Conformity; for children's sizes, a third-party lab report, Children's Product Certificate and tracking label. From 8 July 2026, importers must electronically file the certificate data with CBP at entry. See our [CPSC certificate of compliance guide](/guides/us-cpsc-certificate-of-compliance). ## Common compliance mistakes Using a trademark (for example a branded fiber name) without the generic fiber name next to it. Putting the country of origin on the back of the label or away from the neck on a garment with a neck. Using "Made in USA" for products sewn in the US from imported fabric. The label must disclose the imported fabric. Foreign brands printing an RN they borrowed from a US partner. An RN may only be used by the company it was issued to. Care instructions without a reasonable basis, such as "Dry clean only" added by default without testing. Assuming adult apparel needs no CPSC paperwork. Clothing textiles subject to 16 CFR 1610 need a certificate of compliance, and from 8 July 2026 importers must eFile it with CBP. Treating children's clothing like adult clothing. Products for children 12 and under need third-party testing (lead in trims and prints, plus flammability) and a Children's Product Certificate. ## Frequently asked questions ### What are the FTC textile labeling requirements? Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and 16 CFR Part 303, most textile products sold in the US must carry a label showing three things: fiber content by generic name and percentage by weight, the country of origin, and the name or RN of the manufacturer or another responsible US dealer. Apparel also needs a permanent care label under the Care Labeling Rule (16 CFR 423). Wool products follow the parallel Wool Products Labeling Act rules in 16 CFR Part 300. ### Do I need an RN (Registered Identification Number)? No. An RN is optional. You can show your company name instead. RNs are free from the FTC (rn.ftc.gov) but are issued only to businesses located in the United States. A foreign manufacturer without a US entity must use its business name, or the label can carry the name or RN of the US importer, distributor or retailer that takes responsibility for it. ### How do I determine country of origin for textiles? For imported products, the FTC label follows the origin determined under US Customs rules. For most textile and apparel products, 19 CFR 102.21 generally assigns origin to the country where the product was wholly assembled, not where the fabric was cut or woven, although there are product-specific exceptions such as some fabrics, scarves and household textiles. Products made in the US from imported materials must disclose that, for example "Made in USA of imported fabric". ### What care instructions must I include? A care label must give regular care for ordinary use: either a washing or a drycleaning instruction, plus drying, and bleaching and ironing where relevant, and warnings for any step that would damage the product. You need a reasonable basis, such as test results, for the instructions. Items that are fully reversible and have no pockets are exempt, and the FTC can grant exemptions where a label would harm the product, but the care information must still be provided on a hang tag or package. ### What flammability testing is required for textiles? Clothing textiles must meet 16 CFR Part 1610. Many fabrics are exempt from testing (plain-surface fabrics of at least 2.6 oz/yd², and fabrics made only of acrylic, modacrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester or wool), but the product must still conform and you still certify it. Children's sleepwear has much stricter tests under Parts 1615 and 1616. Carpets and rugs, mattresses and upholstered furniture have their own standards. ### Which textile products are exempt from labeling? Part 303 lists covered products, including apparel, bedding, towels, curtains, table linen, floor coverings and fabrics. Items not on that list, plus specific exclusions such as belts, suspenders, permanently knotted neckties, shoe laces, coated fabrics, disposable non-wovens and furniture upholstery, are outside the Act. Floor coverings are covered, not exempt. An exclusion is lost if you make fiber content claims without a full disclosure. ### Have the FTC textile and wool rules changed recently? Not substantially. The last major amendments to the Textile and Wool Rules took effect in 2014 to 2018, including adopting ISO 2076 generic fiber names and moving RN applications online. In December 2023 the FTC ended its review of the Care Labeling Rule without repealing it, so the rule remains in force unchanged. The bigger 2026 change is on the CPSC side: since 8 July 2026, importers must eFile certificates of compliance for regulated products, including apparel subject to Part 1610. ### Do children's clothes need CPSIA testing? Yes, if they are designed or intended mainly for children 12 or younger. They need third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab for applicable rules, such as lead content in trims, snaps and prints, lead in paint and surface coatings, and flammability. They also need a Children's Product Certificate and permanent tracking information. Undyed and dyed natural fibers and many synthetic fibers are excluded from lead testing, but buttons, zippers and screen prints are not. Drawstrings at the hood and neck of children's upper outerwear are treated as a substantial product hazard. **Disclaimer:** This guide provides general information about US textile compliance, current as of October 2026. Product-specific determinations require analysis of the FTC rules (16 CFR 300, 303, 423), CPSC regulations and US Customs origin rules. Always verify current requirements with agency resources or qualified compliance professionals. 🇺🇸 US roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇺🇸 US compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Related guides * [US Market Compliance OverviewComprehensive overview of US regulatory landscape: FCC, FDA, CPSC, EPA, OSHA, DOE, FTC requirements for market entry.](/guides/us-market-compliance-overview) * [FTC Labeling RequirementsComplete guide to FTC labeling requirements.](/guides/ftc-labeling-requirements) * [CPSC Consumer Product SafetyComplete guide to CPSC consumer product safety requirements.](/guides/cpsc-consumer-product-safety) * [US State-Specific ComplianceComplete guide to US state-specific compliance.](/guides/us-state-specific-compliance)