EN    EN EN  
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels,  
C(2008) XXX final 
  
Draft 
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE ../…/EC 
of […] 
amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Annex II to Directive 
96/73/EC of the European Parliament a nd of the Council on certain methods for 
quantitative analysis of binary textile fibre mixtures 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
. 
.  
EN 2   EN Draft 
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE ../…/EC 
of  
amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Annex II to Directive 
96/73/EC of the European Parliament a nd of the Council on certain methods for 
quantitative analysis of binary textile fibre mixtures 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty esta blishing the European Community, 
Having regard to Directive 96/73/EC of the Eur opean Parliament and of the Council of 16 
December 1996 on certain methods for quantitative analysis of binary textile fibre mixtures1, 
and in particular Article 5 thereof, 
Whereas: (1) Directive 2008/121/EC of the European Pa rliament and the Council of 14 January 
2009 on textile names (recast)
2 requires labelling to indica te the fibre composition of 
textile products, with checks being carried out by analysis on the conformity of these 
products with indications given on the label. 
(2) Uniform methods for quantitative analysis of binary textile fibre mixtures are provided 
for in Directive 96/73/EC. 
(3) On the basis of recent findings by the t echnical working group, Directive 2008/121/EC 
was adapted to technical progress, by adding th e fibre melamine to the list of fibres set 
out in Annexes I and V to that Directive. 
(4) It is therefore, necessary to define  uniform test methods for melamine. 
(5) Directive 96/73/EC should ther efore be amended accordingly. 
(6) The measures provided for in this Directiv e are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Committee for Directives relating to Textile Names and Labelling, 
                                                 
1 OJ L 32, 3.2.1997, p. 1.  
2 OJ L 19, 23.1.2009, p. 29  
EN 3   EN HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Annex II to Directive 96/73/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive. 
Article 2 
 
Transposition 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative 
provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by [one year  after publication…] 
at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between  those provisions and this Directive. 
When Member States adopt those provisions,  they shall contain a reference to this 
Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determin e how such reference is to be made. 
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions 
of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 
Article 3 
This Directive shall enter into force on the tw entieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of  the European Union . 
Article 4 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels,  
 For the Commission 
   Member of the Commission  
EN 4   EN ANNEX  
Annex II to Directive 96/73/EC is amended as follows: 
1. Chapter 2 is amended as follows: (a) The Special Methods – Summary Table is replaced by the following: 
SUMMARY TABLE 
Field of application 
Method 
Soluble component Insoluble component Reagent 
1.  Acetate Certain other fibres Acetone 
2.  Certain protein fibres Cert ain other fibres Hypochlorite 
3.  Viscose, cupro or certain 
types of modal Cotton, elastolefin or 
melamine Formic acid and 
zinc chloride 
4.  Polyamide or nylon Certain other fibres Formic acid, 80% 
m/m 
5.  Acetate Triacetate, elastolefin or 
melamine Benzyl alcohol 
6.  Triacetate or polylactide Cert ain other fibres Dichloromethane 
7.  Certain cellulose fibres Polyester, 
elastomultiester or elastolefin  Sulphuric acid, 75% 
m/m 
8.  Acrylics, certain 
modacrylics or certain chlorofibres Certain other fibres Dimethylformamide 
9.  Certain chlorofibres Ce rtain other fibres Carbon 
disulphide/acetone, 55,5/44,5 v/v 
10. Acetate Certain chlorofibres, 
elastolefin or melamine Glacial acetic acid 
11.  Silk Wool, hair, elastolefin 
or melamine Sulphuric acid, 75% 
m/m 
12.  Jute Certain animal fibres Nitrogen content 
method 
13.  Polypropylene Certain other fibres Xylene  
EN 5   EN 14.  Certain other fibres Chlorofibres 
(homopolymers of vinyl chloride), elastolefin or melamine Concentrated 
sulphuric acid method 
15. Chlorofibres, certain 
modacrylics, certain elastanes, acetates, triacetates Certain other fibres Cyclohexanone 
16. Melamine Cotton or aramid Hot formic acid 90 
% m/m 
(b) Method No 1 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: ”2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4 ), cotton (5), flax (7) true hemp (8), jute 
(9), abaca (10), alfa (11), coir (12), broom  (13), ramie (14), sisal (15), cupro (21), 
modal (22), protein (23), viscose (25), acrylic (26) , polyamide or nylon (30), 
polyester (35) elastomultiester (46), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48). 
In no circumstances is the method applicab le to acetate fibres which have been 
deacetylated on the surface.” 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for melamine, for which ‘d’=1,01” 
(c) Method No 2 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: ”2. cotton (5), cupro (21), viscose (25), acry lic (26), chlorofibres (27), polyamide or 
nylon (30), polyester (35), polypropylene (37), elastane  (43), glass fibre (44) 
elastomultiester (46), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48). 
If different protein fi bres are present, the method give s the total of their amounts but 
not their individual quantities.” 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for cotton, viscose, modal and me lamine, for which ‘d’=1,01, and unbleached 
cotton, for which ‘d’ = 1,03.” 
(d) Method No 3 is amended as follows:  
EN 6   EN (i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: 
”2. cotton (5), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48). 
If a modal fibre is found to be present, a pr eliminary test shall be carried out to see 
whether it is soluble in the reagent. 
This method is not applicable to mixtures  in which the cotton has suffered extensive 
chemical degradation nor when the viscose or cupro is rendered incompletely soluble by the presence of certain dyes or finish es that cannot be removed completely. 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as descri bed in the general instructions. The value of "d" is 1,02 
for cotton, 1,01 for melamine and 1,00 for elastolefin” 
(e) Method No 4 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: "2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), cott on (5), cupro (21), moda l (22), viscose (25), 
acrylic (26), chlorofibre ( 27), polyester (35), polypropyl ene (37), glass fibre (44), 
elastomultiester (46), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48). 
As mentioned above, this method is also appl icable to mixtures with wool, but when 
the wool content exceeds 25 %, method No 2 shall be applied (di ssolving wool in a 
solution of alkaline sodium hypochlorite)." 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for melamine, for which ‘d’=1,01” 
(f) Method No 5 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1 is replaced by the following: "1. FIELD OF APPLICATION This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary mixtures of: 
1. acetate (19) with 2. triacetate (24), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48)." 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following:  
EN 7   EN "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for melamine, for which ‘d’=1,01” 
(g) Method No 6 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: "2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), 
viscose (25), acrylic (26), polyamide or nyl on (30), polyester (35), glass fibre (44) 
elastomultiester (46), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48). 
Note Triacetate fibres which have received a fi nish leading to partial hydrolysis cease to 
be completely soluble in th e reagent. In such cases, th e method is not applicable". 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except in the case of polyester, elastomultiester, elastolefin and melamine, for which the value of "d" is 1,01." 
(h) Method No 8 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: 
"2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), 
viscose (25), polyamide or nylon (30), polyester (35), elastomultiester (46), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48). 
It is equally applicable to acrylics, and certain modacrylics, treated with pre-
metallised dyes, but not to those dyed with afterchrome dyes." 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except in the case of wool, cotton, cupro, modal, polyester, elastomultiester, and 
melamine, for which the value of "d" is 1,01." 
(i) Method No 9 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: "2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5), cupro (21), modal (22), 
viscose (25), acrylic (26), pol yamide or nylon (30), polyest er (35), glass fibre (44), 
elastomultiester (46) and melamine (48).  
EN 8   EN When the wool or silk c ontent of the mixture exceeds 25%, method No 2 shall be 
used. 
When the polyamide or nylon content of  the mixture exceeds 25%, method No 4 
shall be used. " 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for melamine, for which ‘d’=1,01” 
(j) Point 1.2 of Method No 10 is replaced by the following: 
"2. certain chlorofibres (27) namely po lyvinyl chloride fibres, whether after-
chlorinated or not, elastolefi n (47) and melamine (48)." 
(k) Method No 11 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: "2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), elastolefin (47) and melamine (48)". 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the general instructions. The value of "d" is 
0,985 for wool, 1,00 for elastolefin and 1,01 for melamine." 
(l) Method No 13 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1.2 is replaced by the following: "2. wool (1), animal hair (2 and 3), silk  (4), cotton (5), acetate (19), cupro (21), 
modal (22), triacetate (24), viscose (25) , acrylic (26), polyamide or nylon (30), 
polyester (35), glass fibre (44), elasto multiester (46) and melamine (48).” 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for melamine, for which ‘d’=1,01” 
(m) Method No 14 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1 is replaced by the following: “1. FIELD OF APPLICATION This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary mixtures of:  
EN 9   EN 1. cotton (5), acetate (19), cupro (21), modal (22), tria cetate (24), viscose (25), 
certain acrylics (26), certain modacrylics (29), polyamide or nyl on (30), polyester 
(35) and elastomultiester (46). 
with  2. chlorofibres (27) based on homopolym ers of vinyl chloride, whether after-
chlorinated or not, elastolefi n (47) and melamine (48). 
The modacrylics concerned are those which gi ve a limpid solution when immersed in 
concentrated sulphuric acid (relative density 1,84 at 20ºC). 
This method can be used in place of method Nos 8 and 9” (ii) Point 2 is replaced by the following: “2. PRINCIPLE The constituent other than the chlorofibre, elastolefin or melamine (i.e. the fibres 
mentioned in paragraph 1.1) is dissolve d out from a known dry mass of the mixture 
with concentrated sulphuric acid (rela tive density 1,84 at 20ºC). The residue, 
consisting of the chlorofibre, elastolefin or  melamine, is collected, washed, dried and 
weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a pe rcentage of the dry 
mass of the mixture. The pe rcentage of the second cons tituents is obtained by 
difference.” 
(iii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of "d" is 1,00, 
except for melamine, for which ‘d’=1,01” 
(n) Method No 15 is amended as follows: 
(i) Point 1 is replaced by the following: "1. FIELD OF APPLICATION This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary mixtures of: 
1. acetate (19), triacetate (24), chlorofibr e (27), certain modacr ylics (29), certain 
elastanes (43) 
with 2. wool (1), animal hair  (2 and 3), silk (4), cotton (5 ), cupro (21), modal (22), viscose 
(25), polyamide or nylon (30), acrylic (26) , glass fibre (44) and melamine (48). 
Where modacrylics or elastane s are present a preliminary te st must first be carried 
out to determine whether the fibre is completely soluble in the reagent.  
EN 10   EN It is also possible to anal yse mixtures containing chlo rofibres by using method No 9 
or 14. ” 
(ii) Point 5 is replaced by the following: "5. CALCULATION AND EX PRESSION OF RESULTS 
Calculate the results as described in the ge neral instructions. The value of ‘d’ is 1,00 
with the following exceptions: 
silk and melamine 1,01; acrylic 0,98.” 
(o) Method No 16 is insert ed after Method No 15: 
METHOD No 16 
MELAMINE AND CERTAIN OTHER FIBRES 
(Method using hot formic acid) 
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION 
This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary mixtures of: 
1. melamine (48)  with 2. cotton (5) and aramid (31). 
2. PRINCIPLE 
The melamine is dissolved out from a known dry mass of the mixture with hot formic acid (90 
% by mass). 
The residue is collected, washe d, dried and weighed; its mass,  corrected if necessary, is 
expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture. The percen tage of the second 
constituents is obtained by difference. 
Note : Keep strictly the recommended temper ature range because the solubility of 
melamine is very much dependent on temperature. 
3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (oth er than those specified in the general instructions) 
3.1. Apparatus 
(i) Glass-stoppered conical flas k of at least 200 ml capacity. 
(ii) Shaking water bath or other apparatus to shake and maintain the flask at 90 ± 2 
ºC.  
EN 11   EN 3.2. Reagents 
(i) Formic acid (90% m/m, relative density at 20 ºC: 1.204 g/ml). D ilute 890 ml of 98 
to 100 % m/m formic acid (relative dens ity at 20 ºC: 1.220 g/ml) to 1 liter with 
water. 
Hot formic acid is very corrosive and must be handled with care. 
(ii) Ammonia, dilute solution: dilute 80 ml of concentrated ammonia solution 
(relative density at 20 °C: 0.880) to 1 litre with water. 
4. TEST PROCEDURE Follow the procedure described in the general instructions, then proceed as follows: To the specimen contained in th e glass-stoppered conical flask of  at least 200 ml capacity, add 
100 ml of formic acid per gram of specimen. Inse rt the stopper and shake the flask to wet out 
the specimen. Maintain the flask in a shaking wa ter bath at 90 ± 2 ºC for one hour, shaking it 
vigorously. Cool the flask to room temperatur e. Decant the liquid through the weighed filter 
crucible. Add 50 ml of formic acid to the fl ask containing the residue, shake manually and 
filter the contents of the flask through the filter  crucible. Transfer any residual fibres to the 
crucible by washing out the flask with a little more formic acid reagent. Drain the crucible 
with suction and wash the residue with form ic acid reagent, hot water, dilute ammonia 
solution, and finally cold water, draining the cruc ible with suction after each addition. Do not 
apply suction until each washing liquor has drai ned under gravity. Finally, drain the crucible 
with suction, dry the crucible and residue, and cool and weigh them.  
Note: Temperature has a very strong influenc e on solubility properties of melamine and 
should be carefully controlled. 
5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS Calculate the results as described in the genera l instructions. The valu e of ‘d’ for cotton and 
aramid is 1,02. 
6. PRECISION On a homogeneous mixture of textile material s, the confidence limits of results obtained by 
this method are not greater than ± 2 for a confidence level of 95 %.