China’s Antimicrobial Textile Standards Are Improving to Protect Consumer Health
In recent years, antimicrobial textiles have gained increasing popularity in the market. To regulate the antimicrobial market and ensure consumer health, testing and evaluation standards for antimicrobial performance in textiles have been continuously improved. Starting from the release of the "Antimicrobial Knitted Fabrics" standard (FZ/T 73023-2006) in 2006, China has now established a comprehensive system for evaluating the antimicrobial performance of textiles, which includes qualitative testing methods, quantitative testing methods, and safety assessments.
Development of Standards
The standard system for antimicrobial textiles originated in the United States and Japan, with the earliest standards being the American AATCC 90 and China’s FZ/T 01021-1992. After 60 years of development, the evaluation standards for the antimicrobial performance of textiles have been continuously refined. Today, the major standards include those issued by organizations such as the United States, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Japan, and China's National Standardization Management Committee.
Qualitative Testing Methods
Qualitative testing methods involve placing antimicrobial samples on agar plates containing specific microorganisms. After incubation, the inhibition zones and microbial growth are observed to determine whether the samples have antimicrobial properties. These methods are simple and are suitable for determining if a product has antimicrobial effects. Current effective qualitative testing standards for antimicrobial textiles include AATCC 147-2011, JIS L 1902-2015, AATCC 90-2011, FZ/T 73023-2006, GB/T 20944.1-2007, and ISO 20645-2004.
Quantitative Testing Methods
Quantitative testing methods assess the antimicrobial effects of textiles by comparing the bacterial growth on treated samples with that of control samples. Common methods include absorption and shaking techniques. These methods are more precise but require longer testing periods and are more costly. The current effective quantitative testing standards for antimicrobial textiles include AATCC 100-2012, JIS L 1902-2015, ISO 20743-2013, FZ/T 73023-2006, GB/T 20944.2-2007, GB/T 20944.3-2008, and ASTM E2149-13a.
Safety Evaluation
The safety evaluation of antimicrobial textiles not only focuses on their antimicrobial performance but also considers the safety of the antimicrobial agents used and the potential impact on human health. Relevant safety standards include the provisions of FZ/T 73023-2006 and GB/T 31713-2015 "Safety and Hygiene Requirements for Antimicrobial Textiles." Antimicrobial textiles must meet limits on the effect on normal skin flora after washing.
Current Status of China's Antimicrobial Textile Standards
China has issued several standards for the evaluation of antimicrobial performance in textiles, including qualitative testing, quantitative testing, and safety assessments. The implementation of these standards provides a regulated environment for the development of the antimicrobial textile industry, ensuring product quality and consumer safety.
Comparison of Domestic and International Antimicrobial Textile Standards
There are differences between China's standards and international standards in some aspects. For instance, China’s standards specify the number of washing cycles for antimicrobial textiles, while other standards do not. Additionally, China’s standards emphasize that antimicrobial textiles must not affect the normal flora on human skin, reflecting a more forward-thinking approach.
Future Outlook
China's antimicrobial textile standard system is still evolving. As innovations in antimicrobial textiles continue and their applications expand, the standard system will be further refined to meet market demands and ensure product quality and safety. Technologies like the Yuanli MOFA have been recognized by the China National Textile and Apparel Council for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial capabilities and will be applied in industrial promotion across fields such as medical supplies and home textiles.