Introduction
For apparel, fashion, and textile brands, selling in multiple countries creates more opportunities. Growth and expansion into new markets also mean keeping up with several compliance regulations.
Apparel compliance regulations include product safety, chemical, labelling, environmental requirements, and more. These rules keep changing, and it can get hard to keep track of them.
From new, stricter PFAS restrictions in the EU to EPR deadlines in California, several important compliance updates affect fashion and apparel brands in November 2026.
In this article, we break down the latest regulatory changes and recent and upcoming 2027 apparel compliance deadlines. Learn what your business should do now to sell into multiple markets without unnecessary compliance delays.
Apparel compliance regulations that came into effect in September and October 2026
Textile EPR: California SB 707
Textile EPR aims to reduce textile waste by making producers responsible for supporting the collection, repair, reuse and recycling of textiles.
What action do I need to take for the textile EPR rule in California?
From 1 July 2026, California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707) introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements for textile products placed on the market. These requirements include joining an approved Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), which coordinates the collection, recycling and recovery programme.
If you are an apparel or textiles “producer” in California, the approved PRO to join is Landbell USA. While the state regulations took effect on 1 July 2026, the full rollout is expected by 1 July 2030.
Producers who do fail to register for PRO will be deemed noncompliant and will have their products blocked from sale by retailers, distributors, and online marketplaces in California. These producers may also face civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day for intentional, knowing or repeated violations.
Who counts as a “producer” for the SB 707 Textile EPR regulation?
According to the regulation, a producer includes:
- Manufacturers / exclusive licensees (if the manufacturer is not in the state)
- Product importers (if both manufacturer and exclusive licensees are not in the state)
- Product distributors/retailers (if the manufacturer, exclusive licensee and product importers are not in the state)
- Wholesalers (if the manufacturer, exclusive licensee, product importers, product distributors and retailers are not in the state)
A producer does not include:
- Small and secondhand sellers
- Sellers with less than $1 million in global annual turnover
What’s in scope under California’s textile EPR rule?
If you are an apparel, fashion or textile brand that sells the products in scope for textile EPR in California, you may have obligations under the programme. By definition, SB 707 covers all apparel and textile articles, including:
- Clothing and apparel: Dresses, shirts, tops, skirts, trousers, suits, overalls and bodysuits.
- Undergarments and everyday clothing: Underwear, leggings, vests and leisurewear.
- Sports and performance clothing: Athletic wear, dancewear, swimwear and sports uniforms.
- Formal and cultural clothing: Formal wear, costumes and saris.
- Children's clothing: School uniforms, onesies and bibs.
- Outerwear: Jackets, coats, snow pants and ski pants.
- Bags and footwear: Backpacks, handbags and footwear.
- Home textiles: Curtains, window coverings, blankets, towels, bedding, pillows and linens.
- Household and decorative textiles: Tablecloths, napkins and tapestries.
- Workwear: Everyday workwear and work uniforms.
- And more…
EU Green Claims Directive (ECGT)
The EU Greenwashing Directive, formally known as the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGT) (Directive (EU) 2024/825), is an EU regulation that prevents misleading environmental (greenwashing) and circularity claims.
What is the EU Greenwashing Directive for apparel brands?
For apparel, fashion and textile brands, the message is simple: all your sustainability and eco-friendly claims need proof. As consumers increasingly make informed purchasing decisions and adopt more sustainable consumption patterns, this rule requires brands to make sustainability claims only when they provide enough information for consumers to understand them.
What are the new rules to prevent greenwashing in fashion?
Starting 27 September 2026, the ECGT Directive bans vague or generic environmental labels and claims, including carbon-neutral claims, unless the company can provide proof. Environmental labels and claims could be in any of the following types:
- Text
- Pictorial
- Graphic or symbolic
What does my fashion brand need to do for the ECGT Directive?
Apparel, fashion, and textile brands should comply with the ECGT Directive by checking inventory, assessing each claim, fixing what’s outright banned, and gathering evidence for sustainability claims you can prove. Start by listing every claim in every channel. This includes:
- Product pages
- Hang tags
- Packaging
- Ads
- Social media and influencer posts
- Emails
- Store signage
- Collection names and icons
Next, assess each text, icon, or symbolic representation related to environmental claims using a red, amber, and green colour scale. Retire any sustainability claims you cannot prove, and gather evidence such as certificates, test reports, supplier data, scope and dates for claims you can prove.
Need guidance on categorising your brand’s green claims? Download EdgeComply’s ECGT Guide for Fashion Brands for more information.
EU REACH - New PFHxA Limits
PFHxA is a part of a massive family of human-made “forever chemicals” (PFAS). In the apparel, fashion, and textile industry, PFHxA, its salts, and related substances are particularly used to make products such as rain jackets, sportswear, outdoor gear, shoes, and accessories water-repellent and stain-resistant.
What are the new PFHxA restrictions for clothing and footwear?
Starting 10 October 2026, new restrictions set lower PFHxA limits under Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462. No clothing, accessories and footwear intended for the general public must be placed on the EU market if they contain:
- 25 parts per billion (ppb) or more of PFHxA and its salts
- 1000 ppb or more of total PFHxA-related substances
How can I check my products for PFAS?
To check whether your products may contain PFAS, first identify which products in your range resist water, oil, and stains. Some common uses of PFAS in apparel include:
- Waterproof jackets
- Raincoats
- Outdoor clothing
- Ski and snow clothing
- Performance sportswear
- Waterproof footwear
- Bags and accessories
However, it’s hard to tell if a product contains PFAS just by looking at it. Even if the main fabric does not have water- and stain-repellent finishes, its details and trims may contain traces of PFAS.
Checking for PFAS requires a combination of supplier declarations, specialised lab testing, label inspection and much more.
We talk about it further in our PFAS Compliance blog post here: https://www.edgecomply.com/blog/pfas-101-compliance-for-apparel-brands
Upcoming apparel compliance regulations that brands need to prepare for in 2026
Some of the biggest compliance changes aren’t happening this month. They’re coming in the next few months or even for future collections that you could be planning now. Getting ahead of upcoming compliance regulations now can help prevent delays, unexpected costs (such as fees and fines) and problems when entering new markets.
Let’s take a look at some actions for upcoming apparel compliance regulations:
PFAS: California AB 1817
What’s the upcoming PFAS restriction in California?
From 1 January 2027, the total organic fluorine (TOF) threshold decreases from 100 ppm to 50 ppm for all apparel, fashion and textile brands. TOF testing helps identify organic fluorine, which can indicate PFAS in a product.
Because intentionally added PFAS are already restricted under this regulation, the upcoming threshold change is especially relevant for identifying PFAS that may be present unintentionally, such as through contamination during manufacturing.
What does my brand need to do to comply with this PFAS restriction?
Start by reviewing your collection to identify products that may contain PFAS. These are likely products that resist water, oil, and stains, such as:
- Waterproof jackets
- Raincoats
- Outdoor clothing
- Ski and snow clothing
- Performance sportswear
- Waterproof footwear
- Bags and accessories
It’s also helpful to review existing PFAS testing reports and supplier declarations. Speak with your suppliers now about chemical treatments used in fabrics and other components, and check whether your current testing approach can identify TOF levels against the new 50 ppm threshold before the January deadline goes into effect.
Conclusion
Product compliance might seem like a mountain to climb, but it’s one worth scaling. It keeps you out of regulatory hot water, builds trust with your customers, and lays a strong foundation for your brand’s growth. Think of compliance as the quiet engine driving your product’s success: powering you forward, keeping you safe, and ensuring a smooth ride into any market you target.
At EdgeComply, our expert team makes that journey as seamless as possible. By handling the complex, tedious parts of compliance, we free up your time so you can do what you do best: innovate, expand, and build a brand people trust.
