Oeko-Tex directors meet in Cairo
The Oeko-Tex directors’ meeting was held in Cairo for the first time this year. The meeting took place on November 7-9.
Key items on the conference agenda were the customary resolutions relating to amendments of the Oeko-Tex criteria catalogue and an internal agreement between the 15 member institutes about existing quality management (QM) measures such as ensuring a uniform testing level, control tests for compliance with specified product characteristics and trademark protection for the "Confidence in textiles" label.
According to organisers, one of the most welcomed initiatives is a factory monitoring programme, which was introduced at the beginning of the year. Onsite visits by auditors from the Oeko-Tex member institutes became a fixed part of every certification procedure in April.
"Such visits to factories give us an opportunity for the clarification of outstanding issues with the QM representatives in person as well as detailed discussion of other key aspects such as proper use of the Oeko-Tex label for product marking and advertising," said Oeko-Tex secretary general Jean-Pierre Haug.
Last year, the International Oeko-Tex Association issued more than 11,000 certificates. According to Dr Haug, an increasing number of manufacturers based in North Africa are adopting the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for their export merchandise. In Egypt, 455 Oeko-Tex certificates have been issued for raw materials as well as finished yarns and fabrics, clothing and furnishings. The number of certification procedures almost doubled between 2007 and 2009.
