Since Brexit, Great Britain has its own chemicals regime. Here's what UK REACH means for the dyes and finishes in your knitwear — and how to source around it.
From 1 January 2021, Great Britain left EU REACH and stood up its own UK REACH regime, administered domestically. For apparel it carries the same core idea as before — restrictions on hazardous substances — but it's now a separate legal framework with its own restricted-substances list and duties that fall on GB-based manufacturers and importers. (Northern Ireland is a special case — see the Windsor Framework.)
As with the old regime, the risk in knitwear sits mostly in what's added to the fibre — certain azo dyes, formaldehyde in easy-care finishes, restricted substances in prints and coatings, and substances in trims. The fibre itself is rarely the issue; the chemistry applied to it is. UK REACH expects those substances to stay within limits, and expects you to be able to show it.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 yarns are tested against a broad list of harmful substances, which lowers (not eliminates) your restricted-substance exposure and gives you documentation to lean on.
If your brand has a Restricted Substances List, share it up front. We produce to your RSL and to UK market requirements rather than guessing.
Supplier declarations and test data, held and passed to you — so if a buyer or the regulator asks, the documentation already exists.
We're a knitwear manufacturer, not a chemicals-compliance consultancy, and UK REACH evolves — this is general guidance, not legal advice. Responsibility for placing compliant goods on the GB market sits with you as the manufacturer or importer; confirm specifics with a qualified adviser. What we provide is certified-yarn sourcing and the supplier documentation to support your position.
Send your spec and any brand RSL. We'll quote with certified-yarn options and the documentation your UK compliance review needs.