The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has released the 18th edition of the Restricted Substances List (RSL), listing banned or restricted chemicals and substances in apparel, and footwear products around the world.
The list, which is updated every six months, serves as a practical tool for the entire supply chain to become more aware of various national regulations governing the amount of substances that are permitted in finished apparel, and footwear products.
It covers 12 chemical categories with more than 250 chemicals and is updated to reflect additions or changes to regulations and laws that restrict or ban certain chemicals.
“Maintaining a responsible and compliant supply chain is both essential to running a good business and to being a good world citizen,” says Rick Helfenbein, AAFA’s president and CEO. “The RSL is the go-to resource for apparel and footwear professionals tasked with tracking restricted and banned substances. As national and international regulations are continuously evolving, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest regulations. That is why AAFA does the heavy lifting for the entire industry with this report, to ensure that the products being sold in stores are safe for consumers.”

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