OEKO-TEX and Azo-Free Yarn: What Compliance Means for EU and US Buyers

If your yarn ends up in the EU or US, chemical compliance is not optional. Two terms come up constantly: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and azo-free.

What "azo-free" means

Certain azo dyes can break down into carcinogenic amines. The EU (REACH Annex XVII) and many US retailers ban them. "Azo-free" means the yarn was tested and contains no banned azo colourants. We supply azo-free yarns and can provide test documentation on request.

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100

This is a voluntary certification proving the finished article is tested for harmful substances across 100+ parameters. It is the trust signal most EU buyers now expect. We can work with certified supply and provide the relevant test reports.

Practical checklist for buyers

• State "azo-free / REACH compliant" in your spec.
• Request the test report (MTR) per bulk lot.
• For EU retail, ask whether OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is required by your customer.

Need a compliant blend quoted? Tell us your market and we will specify accordingly.