The new Mexican standard for textile labels, NMX-A-3758-INNTEX-2014 “Textile – Code of Generation of Caring Labels with the Use of Symbols” has come into force recently. The new standard supersedes NMX-A-240-INNTEX-2009, and has been prepared, approved and published by the National Organisation for Standardisation, Instituto Nacional de Normalización Textil (INNTEX). The new standard replaces NMX-A-240-INNTEX-2009 which is now obsolete.
The updated Mexican Standard establishes a system which covers the use of graphics / symbols in care labels intended for textile articles in order to provide information on the most severe treatment that does not cause irreversible damage to the article during the textile care process. NMX-A-3758-INNTEX-2014 is identical to the International Standard ISO 3758:2012 – Textile-Care labeling code and uses symbols containing five basic textile care symbols in the order of washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional textile care treatments of wet and dry cleaning, but excludes industrial laundry.
In Mexico, labeling of textiles and apparel products must comply with appropriate mandatory standards (NOMs) and voluntary standards (NMXs). Generally, all apparel, apparel accessories, textile products and home textiles with more than 50 per cent textile content must comply with the Official Mexican Standard NOM-004-SCFI-2006 for mandatory labeling requirements. For apparel and apparel accessories, one or more permanent and legible label(s) must be attached at the collar, waist or any other visible location with the below labeling information in Spanish. Additionally providing labeling information in other languages is also allowed.
As per the rules, care and preservation instructions must be indicated using brief and clear legends or the symbols indicated in the NMX-A-3758-INNTEX-2014, or both. Symbols different from those stipulated in the aforementioned standard may be used, only if the legend relating to proper treatment and the care and preservation instructions also appears in Spanish.