Understanding GB 31701-2015: A Guide to China's Safety Technical Code for Children's Wear

Ensuring compliance with GB 31701-2015 is a critical, yet complex task for manufacturers of infant and children’s textiles in China. This regulation sets stringent safety and labeling standards that must be met to protect young consumers. Understanding which products fall under this regulation and how to meet its requirements is essential for avoiding penalties and ensuring market access. 

This guide to GB 31701-2015 covers its scope and specific requirements, and provides actionable steps for achieving compliance.

What Is GB 31701-2015?

GB 31701-2015 sets safety and quality standards for infant and children’s textile products sold domestically in China, aiming to ensure the well-being of young consumers. The regulation came into effect on June 1, 2016.

Scope and Applicability

GB 31701-2015 applies to:

• Textile Products for Infants: Items worn or used by infants aged 36 months and below.

• Textile Products for Children: Items worn or used by children aged 3 to 14 years.

The standard does not cover items such as:

• Soft or stuffed toys

• Textile crafts or artwork

• Disposable sanitary products

• Handbags, suitcases, backpacks

• Umbrellas, carpets, rugs

• Professional sportswear

Key Requirements under GB 31701

GB 31701-2015 classifies textile products into three safety categories, each with distinct requirements based on the level of exposure to infants and children:

• Type A: Applies to textile products for infants (0-36 months). These products must meet the highest safety standards, given the vulnerability of this age group. They include items like baby clothes and bedding.

• Type B: Applies to products that have direct skin contact, such as T-shirts and underwear for older children (3-14 years). These products require a moderate level of safety.

• Type C: Applies to products that do not have direct skin contact, such as outerwear. These items need to meet the basic safety requirements.

Labeling Requirements

• Infant Products: Must state "textile products for infants" along with the GB 31701 standard code.

• Children’s Products: Must specify the applicable safety category (Type A, B, or C) along with the GB 31701 standard code.

Chemical and Physical Safety Requirements

Hazardous Substance Content: The standard sets limits on the amount of certain chemicals that can be contained in each class type.

• Formaldehyde

  • Class A: ≤ 20 mg/kg

  • Class B: ≤ 75 mg/kg

  • Class C: ≤ 300 mg/kg

• Lead

  • ≤ 90 mg/kg in class A

• Cadmium

  • ≤ 100 mg/kg in class A

• Phthalates

  • DINP, DIDP, DNOP: ≤ 0.1% in Class A

  • DEHP, DBP, BBP: ≤ 0.1% in Class A

• Cleavage Carcinogenic Aromatic Amines: Banned in all classes.

pH Value: Products must fall within specific pH ranges to ensure skin safety.

• Class A: 4.0 to 7.5

• Class B: 4.0 to 8.5

• Class C: 4.0 to 9.0

Colorfastness: Products must meet certain grades of colorfastness to ensure durability and safety when exposed to various conditions like water or dry rubbing.

Filling Materials

• Textile Fiber Filling: Must comply with GB 18401 safety standards.

• Down and Feather Filling: Must meet GB 18401 standards and microbiological requirements specified in GB/T 17685.

Drawstring and Cord Requirements

• Clothing for Infants and Children Aged Under 7:

  • No drawstrings or cords in the head and neck area.

  • Shoulder straps must be fixed and continuous, without free ends.

  • Drawstrings must be no longer than 360 mm when stretched.

  • No cords in the back or waist area.

  • All cords must be inside the garment when fastened.

• Clothing for Children Above Age 7:

  • Similar restrictions as for younger children, with additional allowances for short sleeves and waist positioning.

Additional Physical Requirements

• Attachment Strength: Attachments must meet specific tensile strength requirements based on size of the attachment:

• Attachments 6 mm or larger: Tensile strength ≥ 70 N

• Attachments between 3-6 mm: Tensile strength ≥ 50 N

• Attachments ≤ 3 mm or that cannot be clamped without damage: The appearance of the attachment will be assessed after the item is washed.

• Sharp Points and Edges: Prohibited in accessible parts of products.

• Needles and Metal Sharp Objects: These must not be present in packaging or within the product.

Labeling Requirements

• Infant Products: Must state "textile products for infants" along with the GB 31701 standard code.

• Children’s Products: Must specify the applicable safety category (Type A, B, or C) along with the GB 31701 standard code.

• Label Positioning: Permanent labels should be sewn in specific positions to avoid discomfort or injury.

How Can I Ensure My Products Comply?

Ensuring compliance with GB 31701-2015 involves several key steps:

1. Conduct a Gap Analysis: Evaluate your current products against the GB 31701-2015 requirements to identify areas needing improvement. A regulatory expert like QIMA can help provide compliance guidance.

2. Update Materials and Processes: Adjust your product materials, designs, and manufacturing processes to meet the safety standards, including chemical content, colorfastness, and physical safety requirements.

3. Labeling Compliance: Ensure all labels include the necessary information and adhere to the correct format.

4. Third-Party Testing: Use an accredited laboratory like QIMA for testing to verify that your products meet the standards.

5. Continuous Monitoring: Regularly review and update your compliance practices to adhere to any changes in the regulation.

Achieve Compliance with QIMA

QIMA offers comprehensive textile testing solutions to help you achieve GB 31701-2015 compliance. With our expertise in chemical and physical testing, we ensure your products meet all the market requirements. Take advantage of our independent third-party testing and regulatory guidance to ensure your products are safe, compliant, and trusted by consumers.

Contact us today to book a test.