China sets its own safety standard
The China Leather Industry Association has issued new standards for leather production this year in order to overcome possible ‘technical trade barriers.’
The Product Specifications of the Genuine Leather Mark for Ecological Leather limit the types of chemicals used in leather products, in line with the requirements of the world's major leather importers.
Madame Zhang Shuhua, vice-president of the association, said that the implementation of the specifications, in July, was to actively avoid environmental trade barriers. With China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation, and the subsequent removal of trade barriers meant that technical trade barriers could become the main obstacles to Chinese exports.This would mean that azo-dyes, for instance, could no longer be used in products for export into the EU
Currently, Chinese domestic enterprises selling into the local market do not have to meet the statutory requirements. Leather products which meet the specifications as well as conform to international or industrial standards, will be labled with ‘Genuine Leather Mark for Ecological Leather’, a certification trademark registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
The EU is the second largest importer of Chinese leather products. The volume of the leather trade with the EU is $1.86 billion, accounting for 17 % of the country's total export volume of leather products.
