Term
Description
Classification
ABRAFAS
Brazilian textile regulation association (Associação Brasileira de Produtores de Fibras Artificiais e Sintéticas)
Industry Association
African Continental Free Trade Area
Agreement affecting textile trade across African continent
Trade Agreement
AGOA
African Growth and Opportunity Act providing duty-free treatment for certain textile imports from eligible African countries
Trade Agreement
ASEAN Textile Standards
Harmonized standards for textile production in Southeast Asia
Standards/Guidelines
Bangladesh Accord
Legally binding agreement between brands and unions for workplace safety in Bangladesh garment industry
Binding Agreement / Labour Protection
Bangladesh Labor Law
Specific provisions for garment industry working conditions
Legislation/Regulation
Batik GI Protection
Indonesian geographical indication protection for traditional batik methods
Cultural/IP Rights
BNDES Fashion Industry Support
Brazilian Development Bank program supporting textile industry modernization (Programa de Apoio à Indústria da Moda)
Public Finance Initiative
California Garment Worker Protection Act (2021)
Aimed at improving working conditions and ensuring fair wages for garment workers in the state. It affects all garment manufacturers in CA (including their supply chains outside). Key Provisions: Elimination of Piece Rates, Mandate for Hourly Wages, Increased Liability for Brands, Improved Enforcement
Legislation/Regulation
California Transparency in Supply Chains Act
Law requiring retailers to disclose efforts to eliminate slavery from supply chains
Legislation/Regulation
China Environmental Protection Tax
Tax on pollution including textile industry emissions and waste
Environmental Taxation / Regulation
China National Textile and Apparel Council
Primary regulatory body for Chinese textile industry (中国纺织工业联合会)
Industry Association
China's Environmental Protection Law Amendment 2015
Increased penalties for environmental violations in manufacturing, including fashion production
Legislation/Regulation
China's Guidelines for Enterprise Environmental Information Disclosure 2012
Mandates larger fashion manufacturers disclose a range of environmental information including details about their environmental management practices, pollutant generation, carbon emissions, ecological emergency response plans, and any environmental violations, ensuring the information is timely, accurate, and complete, with a requirement to submit an annual "Legal Disclosure Report of Environmental Information. (Substantial update in 2018)
Standards/Guidelines
Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (CCDAA)
A 2021 California law that requires fashion and textile companies (> $1 billion) to report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The law will help consumers and investors make informed decisions about the brands they buy from.
Legislation/Regulation
CONAB Cotton Classification
Brazilian cotton quality classification system (Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento)
Agricultural Standard
Cotton Egypt Association
Standards and certification for Egyptian cotton production
Industry Association
Ethiopian Investment Incentives
Special incentives for textile industry in industrial parks
Industrial Policy / Trade Incentive
EU Circular Economy Action Plan
Framework including specific measures for textiles and fashion industry sustainability
Legislation/Regulation
EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
Introduced 2021, effective 2023, first reporting Jan 1 2025. This directive significantly expands mandatory sustainability reporting requirements for companies operating within the EU. Fashion companies will need to disclose detailed information on environmental and social impacts throughout their value chains, including human rights, climate change, and environmental pollution.
Legislation/Regulation
EU Digital Product Passport
Proposed system requiring digital documentation of product lifecycle and environmental impact
Digital Traceability / Product Policy
EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles
European Union framework for achieving textile circularity and reducing environmental impact by 2030. Key areas of focus are Extended Producer Responsibility (Shifting the responsibility for end-of-life textile waste back to producers.), Ecodesign requirements (Setting minimum environmental performance standards for textiles). Promoting circular business models: Encouraging repair, reuse, and recycling.
Sustainability Strategy
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Legislation requiring fashion brands to take responsibility for post-consumer textile waste.A policy approach that holds producers accountable for the end-of-life disposal of their products. Brand accountability for product lifecycle
Producer Responsibility / Regulation
Fair Labor Standards Act
US federal law establishing wage labor and child labor standards including in garment industry
Legislation/Regulation
Fashion Act (proposed)
US federal legislation proposed to establish environmental and social standards for fashion industry
Legislation/Regulation
Fashion Sustainability Act
New York's proposed legislation requiring fashion companies to map supply chains and disclose environmental impact
Legislation/Regulation
Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act
2022 in Process (Jan 2025): This US Federal bill requires garment industry employers to pay at least the hourly minimum wage and prohibits piece rate pay. Garment manufacturers and contractors also must register with the Department of Labor.
Legislation/Regulation
French Anti-Waste Law
Legislation banning destruction of unsold fashion goods and promoting circular economy
Legislation/Regulation
G7 Fashion Pact
Coalition of fashion companies committed to environmental goals including ocean protection
Voluntary Initiative
GACC Textile Regulations
Chinese customs regulations for textile trade (海关总署纺织品规定)
Legislation/Regulation
Garment Worker Protection Act
California law requiring hourly wages for garment workers and brand liability for wage theft
Legislation/Regulation
German Supply Chain Act
Law requiring companies to ensure human rights and environmental standards in supply chains
Legislation/Regulation
Green Claims Code
UK guidance on environmental claims in marketing to prevent greenwashing
Consumer Protection Regulation
Higg Index
Standardized supply chain measurement tool for environmental and social impact of apparel
Certification/Index
Indian Handloom Brand
Certification ensuring quality of handloom products in India
Cultural Branding / Certification
Indonesian Textile National Standard
Quality and safety standards for textile production (SNI)
National Textile Standards
MERCOSUR Textile Agreement
South American trade agreement governing textile trade between member states
Trade Agreement
Modern Slavery Act
UK legislation requiring businesses to report on actions taken to prevent modern slavery in supply chains
Legislation/Regulation
Mola Rights
Panama's Indigenous intellectual property protection for Guna textile art
Cultural/IP Rights
Morocco Textile Acceleration Plan
National strategy for textile industry development
Policy/Strategy
New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (Fashion Act)
2023 (2021) This act (in session Jan 2025) sets forth requirements for fashion sellers with $100 million in annual gross receipts that do business in the state of New York to map their supply chains and perform sufficient due diligence. This includes identifying, preventing, mitigating, accounting for, and taking remedial action to address actual and potential adverse impacts to human rights and the environment. Covered companies must set science based targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, work with suppliers to improve chemical management, and embed responsible purchasing practices and responsible exit strategies to improve labor outcomes.
Legislation/Regulation
New York Fashion Worker's Act
2024 signed into Law (2022) Clearly outlines terms like "client," "model," and "modeling management company." Regulates model management companies: Requires registration and outlines their duties and prohibitions, including restrictions on fees, commissions, and discriminatory practices. Protects model rights: Establishes duties and prohibitions for clients and hiring parties, including ensuring fair compensation and providing adequate breaks. Establishes enforcement mechanisms: Provides for penalties and a complaint process within the Department of Labor to address violations of the Act. In essence, the Act seeks to create a more equitable and safe working environment for fashion models in New York State.
Legislation/Regulation
Nordic Swan Ecolabel
Official sustainability certification for textiles in Nordic countries
Certification/Index
Pakistan Textile Policy
National framework for sustainable growth of textile sector including environmental standards
Policy/Strategy
Peruvian Pima Cotton Standards
Regulations governing cultivation and certification of Peruvian Pima cotton
Standards/Guidelines
REACH Regulation
EU regulation controlling use of chemicals in textiles and clothing to protect human health and environment
Legislation/Regulation
Saree Standards
Indian regulations for handloom and powerloom saree production
Standards/Guidelines
Shanghai Textile Group Standards
Industry standards for textile manufacturing in Shanghai region (上海纺织集团标准)
Standards/Guidelines
South African Textile Federation
Industry body governing textile production standards
Industry Association
SUNARP Textile Registration
Peruvian intellectual property registration for textile designs
IP / Trademark Registration
Sustainable Products Initiative
EU regulation requiring products including textiles to be sustainable recyclable and durable
Voluntary Initiative
Textile Exchange Standards
Global standards for responsible fiber and material production
Standards/Guidelines
Textile Labeling Act
Regulations requiring accurate fiber content and care label information on garments
Legislation/Regulation
UN Fashion Industry Charter
Global commitment to achieve net-zero emissions in fashion industry by 2050
Voluntary Initiative
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
US law banning imports of products made with forced labor in Xinjiang region
Legislation/Regulation
Vietnam Textile Development Strategy
National plan for textile industry development 2020-2030
Policy/Strategy
Vietnam Textile Environmental Regulations
National standards for environmental protection in textile manufacturing
Legislation/Regulation
ZDHC Guidelines
Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals framework for chemical management in textile production
Standards/Guidelines
Zero-Rating Facility
Pakistani tax exemption scheme for textile exporters
Fiscal Incentive
Zhejiang Standards
Chinese provincial standards for textile production (浙江纺织标准)
Standards/Guidelines