Egyptian authorities issued new standards for banning harmful substances used to dye clothing and textiles.
The Egyptian Organization for Standards and Quality (EOS) specified amounts for safe usage of specific types of dyes in accordance with international standards.
In an article published 13 June, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported on the absence of standards protecting Egyptian consumers from risks of carcinogenic substances used to dye clothes.
Hany Barakat, head of the EOS, said the new standards followed those applied to fabrics manufactured in the US and Europe.
He said the new standards were issued 15 June and will be enforced from 15 November, to allow six months for companies to apply them on all local and exported fabrics.
The standards include a list of banned dyes used in fabrics manufacture. It includes nine carcinogens and 23 types of the other internationally-prohibited dyes.
Head of the General Organization For Export And Import Control Mohamed Shafiq said the organization will deal strictly with clothes coming from abroad after the new standards are applied.
“We have laboratories to test all the fabrics and clothes. We also can also test harmful dyes used in toys,” he told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
