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Selling clothing, textiles and footwear in Australia

In Australia, clothing, household textiles, furnishings and bedding carry care instructions under the Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023, following AS/NZS 1957:1998 or ISO 3758:2012. Children's nightwear and limited daywear meet the fire hazard standard AS/NZS 1249:2014. Imported textiles and shoes carry an English trade description, and shoes state what the sole, upper and lining are made of.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Care labels
Care Labelling Information Standard 2023
Options
AS/NZS 1957:1998 as varied, or ISO 3758:2012 clause 4
Children's nightwear
AS/NZS 1249:2014, from 1 January 2020
Shoes
Sole, upper and quarter lining composition, at least 2.5 mm high
Imports
English trade description with the country of origin
Origin claims
Safe harbour in section 255 of the Australian Consumer Law

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Are the goods regulated goods under the care labelling standard, or excluded? Read more
  2. 2Do the care instructions follow AS/NZS 1957 as varied, or ISO 3758, and are they in English? Read more
  3. 3Is it children's nightwear or limited daywear covered by AS/NZS 1249:2014? Read more
  4. 4For shoes, is the composition of the sole, upper and quarter lining marked on the shoe? Read more
  5. 5Does the imported article carry a trade description with the country where it was made? Read more
  6. 6Can a 'Made in' claim meet the substantial transformation test? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Care labelling

The information standard on care instructions for textile goods.

  • Regulated goods include clothing, household textiles, apparel, furnishings, upholstered furniture, bedding including sleeping bags, mattresses, bed bases, piece goods and yarns.
  • Excluded goods include footwear (other than hosiery), cleaning cloths, headwear, belts, toys, umbrellas, single-use articles, and medical and surgical goods.
  • The standard commenced on 5 September 2023, with two transitional periods of 6 and 12 months. After them, goods comply with AS/NZS 1957:1998 as varied by the standard, or with clause 4 of ISO 3758:2012.
  • Under the Australian option, label wording is in English and clearly legible; where an article cannot be washed or dry cleaned, the permanent label says so and describes the care treatment.
  • Some made-up goods, such as gloves, hosiery, tea towels and serviettes, may carry instructions on a removable ticket, pamphlet or packaging instead of a permanent label.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your care label artwork against the option you follow, and keeps the label with each style and colourway. Ask about this

Children's nightwear and limited daywear

The fire hazard safety standard for children's sleepwear.

  • On and after 1 January 2020, AS/NZS 1249:2014 Children's nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard is a mandatory safety standard for the nightwear and limited daywear it applies to.
  • Second-hand nightwear and limited daywear are outside it.
  • Paper patterns for children's nightwear are sold in packaging bearing a clearly legible fire warning, with 'FIRE WARNING' in bold upper case.
  • Supplying goods that do not comply with a safety standard is prohibited (section 106 of the Australian Consumer Law).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the fabric flammability test reports and the label artwork with each nightwear style, and shows which are missing. Ask about this

Footwear

The extra trade description rules for imported shoes.

  • The trade description of a shoe includes a true statement of the composition of the sole, upper and quarter lining: 'all leather', the materials where a part is partly leather, or 'synthetic' or 'non-leather'.
  • It is impressed or embossed on the shoe in legible letters at least 2.5 mm high: on the waist of the outer sole, inside the upper, on the heel seat or waist of the sock lining or inner sole, or on the tongue.
  • Where the material does not allow that, the description goes on a durable label attached by vulcanisation, adhesion or another secure means.
  • Ski boots designed for ski bindings with moulded plastic uppers and rigid soles are exempt.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your shoe specifications and marking photos against the composition statement rules, and keeps them with each style. Ask about this

Import trade descriptions and origin claims

What imported textiles must show, and when a 'Made in' claim is safe.

  • Textile products and articles of apparel, including shoes, cannot be imported without a trade description in English with a true description of the goods and the country where they were made or produced.
  • On goods not imported prepacked, the trade description is a principal label or brand attached prominently and as permanently as practicable.
  • Packages of textile products and apparel packed for sale as a single item, a pair or a set may be imported without the trade description on the package.
  • A claim that goods were made in a country does not breach the misleading conduct provisions if the goods were last substantially transformed there (section 255 of the Australian Consumer Law).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps origin evidence, such as where cutting and sewing took place, with each style, and reads your labels for the trade description. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandCare instructions, origin claims and nightwear compliance.Labels and test reports kept with each style.
ImporterThe trade description and the shoe composition statement.Supplier declarations and marking photos kept by consignment.
FactoryFabric and fibre information that care instructions and composition statements depend on.Supplier documents collected once and shown to each customer that asks.

States and territories

Food standards are developed by FSANZ and adopted without variation by the states and territories, whose agencies and local councils enforce the Food Standards Code. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry enforces it at the border.

The Australian Consumer Law is enforced by the ACCC for widespread issues and by state and territory consumer protection agencies, which handle individual complaints.

Questions businesses ask

Do clothes need care labels in Australia?
Yes. Clothing, household textiles, furnishings, bedding and other regulated goods carry care instructions under the Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023.
Can I use ISO care symbols in Australia?
Yes. After the transitional periods, goods comply with either AS/NZS 1957:1998 as varied by the standard or clause 4 of ISO 3758:2012, the international care symbol standard.
Do care labels have to be in English?
Under the Australian/New Zealand option, the label wording is in English and clearly legible. Where an article cannot be washed or dry cleaned, the permanent label says so in words.
Does footwear need a care label?
No. The care labelling standard excludes footwear other than hosiery. Shoes do need a trade description stating the composition of the sole, upper and quarter lining.
How must shoe materials be marked?
Impressed or embossed on the shoe, in letters at least 2.5 mm high, on the outer sole waist, inside the upper, on the sock lining or inner sole, or on the tongue; otherwise on a durable, securely attached label.
What is the rule for children's pyjamas?
Children's nightwear and limited daywear covered by AS/NZS 1249:2014 must meet that standard, declared a mandatory safety standard from 1 January 2020. Second-hand items are outside it.
Do imported clothes need a country of origin label?
Yes. Textile products and apparel cannot be imported without an English trade description with a true description and the country where they were made or produced.
When can I say 'Made in Australia'?
Under section 255 of the Australian Consumer Law, the claim is safe if the goods were last substantially transformed in Australia, meaning fundamentally different in identity, nature or essential character from their imported components.
Are towels and bed linen covered by care labelling?
Household textiles and bedding are regulated goods. Some made-up items, such as tea towels and face washers, may carry instructions on a removable ticket, pamphlet or packaging instead of a permanent label.
Who enforces these rules?
The care labelling and nightwear standards are made under the Australian Consumer Law, enforced by the ACCC and state and territory agencies. The Australian Border Force can seize imported goods that are not labelled correctly.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Australia?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the Commonwealth, state and territory layers in Australia. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product and keeps the documents behind each one ready. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Australia and what your paperwork needs to show.

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