GB 31701 Safety Technical Code for Infants and Children Textile Products
GB 31701 sets essential testing standards for textile products for infants and children. Effective from June 1, 2016, these standards apply to both domestic and imported items, ensuring safety and compliance with GB 18401.
GB 31701 sets essential testing standards for textile products for infants and children. Effective from June 1, 2016, these standards apply to both domestic and imported items, ensuring safety and compliance with GB 18401.
Product Categories
The following categories apply to our textile products:
- Category A: Textile Products for babies should comply with Category A technical requirement
- Category B: Textile Products with direct contact to skin should at least comply with Category B technical requirement
- Category C: Textile Products without direct contact to skin should at least comply with Category C technical requirement
Definitions
- Infant Products: Items for infants up to 36 months old.
- Children's Products: Items for children aged 3 to 14 years. (Note: products which are applicable to girls up from 100 to 155 cm height or boys up from 100 to 160 cm height can generally be regarded as products for children. Of these, products which are applicable to children up to 130 cm height can be regarded as products for children below the age of 7 years.)
Exclusions
Certain textile products are not included under this standard but may follow alternative standards. Examples include:
- Disposable sanitary products
- Umbrellas
- Shoes
- Suitcases and backpacks
For a full list of exclusions, please refer to the standard. If you have any questions about your product, please contact us.
Test Plan
Only specific test items will apply based on the selected product type, test category, and destination market. A detailed list of test items will be included in your order confirmation after purchase.
Test Items and Methods
| Test Item | Test Method |
|---|---|
| Formaldehyde content# | GB/T 2912.1 |
| pH Value | GB/T 7573 |
| Colour fastness to water | GB/T 5713 |
| Colour fastness to perspiration | GB/T 3922 |
|
Colour fastness to saliva (Category A only) |
GB/T 18886 |
| Odour | GB 18401 6.7 |
| Azo dye# | GB/T 17592 / GB/T 23344 |
|
Colour fastness to rubbing Not applicable on raw white and bleach white products |
GB/T 3920 |
|
Heavy metal (Category A only) Only coating and pigment dyeing and printing fabrics shall be tested for total lead, total cadmium level |
GB/T 30157 |
|
Phthalate (only for coated and printed products) (Category A only) only apply on coating and pigment dyeing and printing fabrics shall be tested |
GB/T 20388 |
|
Flammability only apply on outer shell, not applicable on wool, acrylic, mod. acrylic, nylon, olefin, and polyester pure fiber and their blends, also not applicable on weight > 90 g/m2 material |
GB/T 14644 |
| Pull Test of attachment | GB 31701-2015 Appendix A |
| Sharp point, sharp edge | GB/T 31702 |
| Cords and drawstrings requirements | GB 31701-2015 5.7 |
Exceptions & Remarks
Not all test items will apply to every product. Only specific tests will be conducted based on the product type, testing requirements, and destination market.
Additional Notes
- The package excludes filling material requirements.
- The fiber and down filling used in infant and children’s products must comply with GB 18401 safety standards, and the down filling must meet GB/T 17685 microbiological requirements. Please contact us if your product contains down filling.
Cost-Efficiency
#To help you save on testing costs, we offer composite testing for chemical analyses. Similar materials will be grouped for analysis. If any restricted chemicals are detected during composite testing, additional individual checks may be required, and you will be informed accordingly.
How do I tell if my sample is PASS or FAIL?
If you prefer a conclusion rating (PASS or FAIL) in the report after the test, please inform us by replying to our confirmation email. The lab will then rate your sample based on the general requirements of your selected market, whenever applicable. If you would like to check the specific market requirements, please contact us with your sample details and destination market.
Safety standard – is this the only standard my textile product has to comply with?
NO.
A product must comply with all applicable mandatory standards, plus any committed performance declarations.
According to textile labeling requirements, textile products must declare the “Product Standard” and product grade, which normally contain another set of requirements.
Although each “Product Standard” may itself be voluntary (indicated by “/T,” which means recommended in Chinese), the declaration is a market norm and makes the declared set of product standards mandatory to some extent.
To put it simply, the minimum compliance would be the safety standard plus the declared product standard.
What are the differences between categories?
The safety requirements of Category A > Category B > Category C.
The minimal requirement for skin-contact textiles is Category B, while for non-skin contact textiles, it is Category C.
A stricter standard can be declared for your product; for example, you can declare Category B for a non-skin contact textile product, but NOT vice versa.
How to define skin contact?
When worn or used, a skin-contact product has its largest surface area in direct contact with human skin. If only a minor part is in skin contact or there is no contact, the product is classified as indirect skin contact.
Skin contact examples: Underwear, shirts, skirts, trousers, socks, bed sheets, duvet covers, towels, swimsuits, hats.
Non-skin contact examples: Overclothes, curtains, bed linen, wall cloth.
Scope of regulation:
Products composed of natural and chemical fibers as the main raw materials, manufactured through processes such as spinning, knitting, and dyeing, combined with stitching and compounding processes. Examples include yarn, textiles, and finished products thereof.
