http://www.softlines.sgs.com/news.htm News SGS NEWS en © 2008 SGS. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:53:00 +0000 180 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/news.htm http://www.softlines.sgs.com/sgs_logo.gif SGS NEWS 144 44 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-supports-aafa-as-elite-sponsor-hk?viewId= SGS proudly announces that we have become an Elite Sponsor of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). As an AAFA Elite Sponsor, we made a notable annual investment to advance the association members' competitiveness, productivity and profitability in the global market. We endeavour to share with AAFA members our professional knowledge and leadership in the textile and footwear industry. 30/09/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-signs-worldwide-agreement-for-fssc-22000-certification-foodsafety?viewId= SGS, the world’s leading Food Safety Management Systems certification body, has signed a global licensing contract with the Foundation for Food Safety Certification. Under the agreement, SGS is immediately able to certify organizations against the new FSSC 22000 standard. SGS is now progressing IAF accreditation for the standard to complete the full recognition process. 26/08/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/fe-sgs-ukraine-achieves-iso-9001-2008-certification-ua?viewId= The Quality Management System (QMS) for the inspection services rendered by FE “SGS UKRAINE” conforms to international standard ISO 9001:2008 which details the requirements for QMS. 24/08/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/quality-and-safety-will-always-be-beautiful?viewId= SGS partners with EFfCI to audit and certify members’ compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines that ensure the highest standards of quality and safety for ingredients used in cosmetics products as well as in the industry’s manufacturing processes. 23/07/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/degradation-of-fabric-properties-hk?viewId= Swimwear fabrics are manufactured using a variety of fibre combinations and fibre types. The fabric properties can be very dependent on the fibre content and types of fibres used in the fabric. Some fabrics are more sensitive to exposure to chlorinated water than others which might result in a loss in strength coupled with an increase in stretch and decrease in recovery. 25/06/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/iso-9001-2000-certificate-delivered-to-pilkington-glass-ru?viewId= After two years of hard preparatory work, Pilkington Glass LLC passed the SGS certification audit, which confirmed that the management system covering sales and manufacturing of glass for construction industry in Russia has been created and implemented in accordance with ISO 9001:2000 standard. 27/04/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/aafa-releases-its-fourth-version-of-restricted-substances-list?viewId= The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) released the 4th version of its restricted substances list (RSL) on February 13, 2009. The list was reviewed and revised by a special working group of the AAFA Environmental Task force, which includes Dr. Helmut Krause of SGS. 07/04/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-ssc-chose-fsc-certified-paper-as-its-media-press-source?viewId= As the awareness of protecting environment is growing, FSC certified product is becoming popular among environmentalists and normal citizens. To widely promoting FSC, SGS SSC internal media press choose FSC certified paper as its source, which also showed social responsibility that SGS has made. 12/03/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-taiwan-is-accredited-by-consumer-product-safety-improvement-act-hr-4040-tw?viewId= The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently published the final rule for Certificates of Compliance. The US importer or the (US) domestic manufacturer has now been designated as the sole entity that must issue the Certificate of Conformity (COC). This rule is effective upon publication in the Federal Register. 04/02/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-asset-integrity-management-aim-competence-center-experts-presented-five-papers-at-the-2009-american-petroleum-institute-api-inspector-summit?viewId= SGS papers have fully convinced hundred of attendees about the expertise of the AIM Competence Center at the 2009 API Inspector Summit held January 27 - 30 in Galveston, Texas, USA 25/02/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/european-market-concerns-eu-to-ban-dimethyl-fumarate-in-consumer-products-part-3-news-cn?viewId= EU Member States have now voted in favour of a draft European Commission Decision to ensure consumer products such as leather furniture or footwear containing dimethyl fumarate (DMF) are not placed on the EU market. The Draft Commission decision will be submitted for consultation to the European Parliament before the College of Commissioners for final approval. 27/02/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-delivers-aatcc-international-training-course-in-2009-news-softlines?viewId= In 2009, the SGS Certified AATCC Course Instructors are ready to deliver the AATCC International Training Course to the public. The course includes training on colorfastness, physical properties and fiber identification (qualitative). A total of 18 courses are scheduled in 8 designated locations. 22/02/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/clothing-fires-may-cause-burn-injuries-disfigurement-or-death-news-softlines?viewId= All garments and fabrics used in general wearing apparel or children‘s sleepwear must meet the requirements of the Flammable Fabrics Act. The guarantee, a formal certification, must indicate that reasonable and representative tests have been made in accordance with applicable standards and procedures currently in effect under the Flammable Fabrics Act and that the fabric tested meets the minimum requirements. 22/02/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs_taking_full_support_in_afirm_product_safety_and_rsl_seminar_in_dougguan_and_hangzhou_in_march-news-cn?viewId= Product Safety and Restricted Substances are two of the most contentious and challenging issues on the retail landscape today. AAFA travels to China for its two-city conference program, Hangzhou and Dougguan, educating the industry on legistered standards and compliance requirement. This year, SGS is taking the full support in this event and our expert will be presenting in both locations. 23/02/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/high-visibility-clothing-for-us-market?viewId= American National Standard ANSI/SEA 107 and 207 are industry consensus standards in the US market that specify the requirement for Personal Protective Equipment. High visibility products are capable of signaling the user’s presence visually and making them conspicuous in hazardous situations under any light conditions by day and under illumination by vehicle headlights in the dark. 22/01/09 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/european-market-concerns-part-2-dimethyl-fumarate-update?viewId= Since the beginning of 2008, there have been continuous reports of consumers in Europe suffering from rashes and other symptoms as a result of sitting on sofas and recliners from China. These sofas were found to contain sachets of the anti-molding agent dimethyl fumarate. 04/12/08 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/sgs-ndt-training-and-examination-center-receives-an-ato-accreditation-by-bindt?viewId= The SGS-NDT Training & Examination Centre has successfully passed an audit by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) and is now an Accredited Training Organization (ATO). This authorizes SGS to conduct both training and examinations in accordance with BINDT requirements, in China and around the world. 05/12/08 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/testing-standards-for-quantitative-analysis-of-animal-fibers-by-microscopy-cashmere-wool-speciality-fibers-and-their-blends?viewId= Natural fibers are used extensively in today’s textile market in the return fashion on demanding natural and comfort feelings and environmental awareness. Cashmere named as “soft gold” due to its softness and rarity. It was only available to imperial families in the past, although Cashmere has become more affordable nowadays. Substitution of Cashmere with wool or other animal fibers can lead to big rewards due to the huge price difference between fibers. However, mislabeling of textile products can cause huge loss with fine and product recall, or even worse, to lose the reputation in the market. 02/12/08 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/guides-for-feather-and-down-products?viewId= A guideline showing the definition of Down in various countries and providing test suggestions for Feather and Down products evaluation. 26/09/08 http://www.softlines.sgs.com/en/the-yellowing-problem-of-white-packaged-textiles-phenolic-yellowing?viewId= Yellowing of white and pastel colored textiles and garments has been a problem for many years in the textile industry. The majority of yellowing problem is not due to the yellowing of fiber substrate or textile finish but the yellowing of phenolic antioxidants of packaging materials which migrate onto the textile substrates giving rise to the yellowing phenomenon. 01/09/08