1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 1
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►B DIRECTIVE94/11/ECOFEUROPEANPARLIAMENTANDCOUNCIL
of23March1994
ontheapproximationofthelaws,regulationsandadministrativeprovisionsoftheMemberStates
relating to labelling of the materials used in the main components of footwear for sale to the
consumer
(OJ L 100, 19.4.1994, p. 37)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►A1Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia,
the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic ofMalta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the SlovakRepublic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the EuropeanUnion is foundedL 236 33 23.9.2003
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 47, 24.2.1996, p. 35 (94/11/EC)
▼B
DIRECTIVE 94/11/EC OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
COUNCIL
of23March1994
on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States relating to labelling of the mate-rials used in the main components of footwear for sale to the
consumer
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and
in particular Article 100a thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b of
the Treaty,
Whereas in certain Member States there exist Regulations on footwear
labelling which are designed to protect and inform the public as well asto secure the legitimate interests of industry;
Whereas the disparity of such Regulations risks creating barriers to
trade within the Community, thereby prejudicing the functioning ofthe internal market;
Whereas, in order to avoid problems due to different systems, the items
of a common labelling system for footwear should be precisely
defined;
Whereas the Council resolution of 9 November 1989 on future priori-
ties for relaunching consumer protection policy (
3) calls for efforts to
improve consumer information on products;
Whereas it is in the interests of both consumers and the footwear
industry to introduce a system reducing the risk of fraud by indicatingthe exact nature of the materials used in the main components of foot-wear;
Whereas, in Council resolution of 5 April 1993 on future action on the
labelling of products in the interest of the consumer (
4), labelling is
deemed to be one important means of achieving better informationand transparency for the consumer and of ensuring that the internal
market functions harmoniously;
Whereas the harmonization of national legislation is the appropriate
way of removing these barriers to free trade; whereas that objective
cannot be satisfactorily achieved by the individual Member States;whereas this Directive establishes only those requirements which areindispensable for the free movement of the products to which itapplies,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. This Directive shall apply to the labelling of the materials used in
the main components of footwear for sale to the consumer.
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘footwear’ shall mean all articles
with applied soles designed to protect or cover the foot, including partsmarketed separately as referred to in Annex I.1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 74, 25. 3. 1992, p. 10.
(2) OJ No C 287, 4. 11. 1992, p. 36.
(3) OJ No C 294, 22. 11. 1989, p. 1.
(4) OJ No C 110, 20. 4. 1993, p. 3.
▼B
A non-exhaustive list of the products covered by the Directive appears
in Annex II.
The following shall be excluded from the Directive:
— second-hand, worn footwear,
— protective footwear covered by Directive 89/686/EEC (1),
— footwear covered by Directive 76/769/EEC (2),
— toy footwear.
2. Information on the composition of footwear shall be conveyed by
means of labelling as specified in Article 4.
(i) The labelling shall convey information relating to the three parts
of the footwear as defined in Annex I, namely:
(a) the upper;
(b) the lining and sock; and
(c) the outersole.
(ii) The composition of the footwear shall be indicated as specified in
Article 4 on the basis either of pictograms or of written indicationsfor specific materials, as stipulated in Annex I.
(iii) In the case of the upper, classification of the materials shall be
determined on the basis of the provisions contained in Article 4(1) and in Annex I, no account being taken of accessories or rein-forcements such as ankle patches, edging, ornamentation, buckles,tabs, eyelet stays or similar attachments.
(iv) In the case of the outersole, classification shall be based on the
volume of the materials contained therein, in accordance withArticle 4.
Article 2
1. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that all
footwear placed on the market meets the labelling requirements of thisDirective without prejudice to other relevant Community provisions.
2. Where footwear not in conformity with the provisions regarding
labelling requirements is placed on the market, the competent MemberState shall take appropriate action as specified in its national legisla-tion.
Article 3
Without prejudice to other relevant Community provisions, Member
States shall not prohibit or impede the placing on the market of foot-wear which complies with the labelling requirements of this Directive,
by the application of unharmonized national provisions governing the
labelling of certain types of footwear or of footwear in general.
Article 4
1. The labelling shall provide information on the material, deter-
mined in accordance with Annex I, which constitutes at least 80 % ofthe surface area of the upper, and the lining and sock, of the footwear,and at least 80 % of the volume of the outersole. If no one materialaccounts for at least 80 %, information should be given on the two
main materials used in the composition of the footwear.
2. The information shall be conveyed on the footwear. The manu-
facturer or his authorized agent established in the Community maychoose either pictograms or written indications in at least the language
or languages which may be determined by the Member State of
consumption in accordance with the Treaty, as defined and illustratedin Annex I. Member States, in their national provisions shall ensure1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ No L 399, 30. 12. 1989, p. 18.
(2) OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 201.
▼B
that consumers are adequately informed of the meaning of these picto-
grams, while ensuring that such provisions do not create trade barriers.
3. For the purpose of this Directive, labelling shall involve affixing
the required information to at least one article of footwear in each pair.
This may be done by printing, sticking, embossing or using an attachedlabel.
4. The labelling must be visible, securely attached and accessible
and the dimensions of the pictograms must be sufficiently large tomake it easy to understand the information contained therein. It mustnot be possible for the labelling to mislead the consumer.
5. The manufacturer or his authorized agent established in the
Community shall be responsible for supplying the label and for the
accuracy of the information contained therein. If neither the manufac-turer nor his authorized agent is established in the Community, thisobligation shall fall on the person responsible for first placing the foot-wear on the Community market. The retailer shall remain responsible
for ensuring that the footwear sold by him bears the appropriate label-
ling prescribed by this Directive.
Article 5
Additional textual information, affixed, should the need arise, to the
labelling may accompany the information required under this Directive.However, Member States may not prohibit or impede the placing onthe market of footwear conforming to the requirements of this Direc-tive, in accordance with Article 3.
Article 6
1. Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 23
September 1995 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commis-
sion thereof.
2. Member States shall apply the measures referred to in paragraph
1 from ►
C123 March 1996. ◄Stock invoiced or delivered to the
retailer before that date shall not be subject to the said measures until23 September 1997.
3. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a
reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such reference on the
occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a
reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
4. The Commission shall submit to the Council, three years after
this Directive has been brought into application, an assessment reporttaking into consideration any difficulties which may have been encoun-tered by operators where implementing the provisions of this Directive
and shall present, should the need arise, appropriate proposals for
review.
Article 7
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 4
▼B
ANNEX I
1.Definition and corresponding pictograms or written indications
concerningthepartsofthefootweartobeidentified
Pictograms Written indications
(a)Upper
This is the outer face of the structural element
which is attached to the outersole.
F Tige
D ObermaterialIT Tomaia
NL Bovendeel
EN UpperDK Overdel
GR ΕΠΑΝΩ
ΜΕΡΟΣ
ES Empeine
P Parte superior
►
A1CZ Vrch
EST Pealne
LV Virsa
LT ViršusHU Fels őrész
MW i ċċ
PL Wierzch
SI Zgornji delSK Vrch ◄
(b)Liningandsock
These are the lining of the upper and the
insole, constituting the inside of the footwear
article.
F Doublure et
semelle de
propreté
D Futter und Deck-
sohle
IT Fodera e Sotto-
piede
NL Voering en inleg-
zool
EN Lining and sockDK Foring og bindsålGR ΦΟ∆ΡΕΣ
ES Forro y plantilla
P Forro e Palmilha►
A1CZ Podšívka a
stélka
EST Vooder ja sisetaldLV Odere un
ieliekam āsaist-
zole
LT Pamušalas ir
įklotė
HU Bélés és
fedőtalpbélés
M Inforra u sulettaPL Podszewka z
wyściółką
SI Podloga in vložek
(steljka)
SK Podšívka a
stielka ◄1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 5
▼B
Pictograms Written indications
(c)Outersole
This is the bottom part of the footwear article,
which is subjected to abrasive wear and
attached to the upper.
F Semelle extér-
ieure
D Laufsohle
IT Suola esternaNL Buitenzool
EN Outer sole
DK YdersålGR ΣΟΛΑ
ES Suela
P Sola
►
A1CZ Podešev
EST VälistaldLV Ārējāzole
LT Padas
HU JárótalpM Pett ta' barra
PL Spód
SI PodplatSK Podošva ◄
2.Definitionandcorrespondingpictogramsofthematerials
The pictograms concerning the materials should appear on the label beside
the pictograms relating to the 3 parts of the footwear as specified in Article
4 and in part 1 of this Annex.
Pictogram Written indications
(a) (i)Leather
A general term for hide or skin with its original
fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be
rot-proof. The hair or wool may or may not have
been removed. Leather is also made from a hide
or skin which has been split into layers or
segmented either before or after tanning.
However, if the tanned hide or skin is disinte-
grated mechanically and/or chemically into
fibrous particles, small pieces or powders and
then, with or without the combination of a
binding agent, is made into sheets or other
forms, such sheets or forms are not leather. If
the leather has a surface coating, however
applied, or a glued-on finish, such surface layersmust not be thicker than 0,15 mm. Thus, all
leathers are covered without prejudice to other
legal obligations, e.g. the Washington Conven-
tion.
Should the term ‘full grain leather’ be used in
the optional additional textual information
referred to in Article 5, it will apply to a leather
bearing the original grain surface as exposed by
removal of the epidermis and with none of the
surface removed by buffing, snuffing or splitting.
F Cuir
D LederIT Cuoio
NL Leder
EN LeatherDK LæderGR ∆ΕΡΜΑ
ES Cuero
P Couros e peles
curtidas
►
A1CZ Use ň
EST NahkLV Āda
LT Oda
HU B őr
M Ġilda
PL Skóra
SI Usnje
SK Use ň◄
(a) (ii)CoatedLeather
leather where the surface coating applied to the
leather does not exceed one third of the total
thickness of the product but is in excess of
0,15 mm.F Cuir enduit
D Beschichtetes
Leder
IT Cuoio rivestitoNL Gecoat leder
EN Coated leather
DK Overtrukket1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 6
▼B
Pictogram Written indications
læder
GR ΕΠΕΝ∆Ε∆Υ-
ΜΕΝΟ ∆ΕΡΜΑ
ES Cuero untadoP Couro revestido
►
A1CZ Povrstvená
useň
EST Kaetud nahk
LV P ārklātaāda
LT Padengta odaHU Bevonatos b őr
M Ġilda miksija
PL Skóra pokryta
SI Krito usnjeSK Povrstvená
useň◄
(b)Naturaltextilematerialsandsyntheticornon-
woventextile materials
‘Textiles’ shall mean all products covered by
Directive 71/307/EEC and amendments thereof.
F Textile
D TextilIT Tessili
NL Textiel
EN TextileDK Tekstil-materialerGR ΥΦΑΣΜΑ
ES Textil
P Téxteis►
A1CZ Textilie
EST Tekstiil
LV Tekstilmateri āls
LT Tekstil ė
HU Textil
M Tessut
PL Materiał włókien-
niczy
SI Tekstil
SK Textil ◄
(c)Allothermaterials
 F Autres matériaux
D Sonstiges Mate-
rial
IT Altre materieNL Overige materi-
alen
EN Other materialsDK Andre materialer
GR ΑΛΛΑ ΥΛΙΚΑ
ES Otros materialesP Outros materiais
►
A1CZ Ostatní
materiály
EST Teised materjalid
LV Citi materi āli
LT Kitos medžiagosHU Egyéb anyag
M Materjal ie ħor1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 7
▼B
Pictogram Written indications
PL Inny materiał
SI Drugi materialiSK Iný materiál ◄1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 8
▼B
ANNEX II
EXAMPLESOFFOOTWEARCOVEREDBYTHISDIRECTIVE
‘Footwear’ may range from sandals with uppers consisting simply of adjustable
laces or ribbons to thigh boots the uppers of which cover the leg and thigh.
Among the products included therefore are:
(i) flat or high-heeled shoes for ordinary indoor or outdoor wear;
(ii) ankle-boots, half-boots, knee-boots, and thigh boots;
(iii) sandals of various types, ‘espadrilles’ (shoes with canvas uppers and soles
of plaited vegetable material), tennis shoes, running and other sports
shoes, bathing sandals and other casual footwear;
(iv) special sports footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has,
or has provision for the attachment of, spikes, studs, stops, clips, bars or
the like and skating boots, ski boots and cross-country ski footwear, wres-
tling boots, boxing boots and cycling shoes. Also included are composite
articles made upof footwear with (ice or roller) skates attached;
(v) dancing slippers;
(vi) footwear formed from a single piece, particularly by moulding rubber or
plastics, but excluding disposable articles of flimsy material (paper, plastic
film, etc., without applied soles);
(vii) overshoes worn over other footwear, which in some cases are heel-less;
(viii) disposable footwear, with applied soles, generally designed to be used
only once;
(ix) orthopaedic footwear.
For reasons of homogeneity and clarity, and subject to the provisions mentioned
in the description of the products covered by this Directive, products covered by
Chapter 64 of the combined nomenclature (‘CN’) may, as a general rule, be
regarded as falling within the scope of this Directive.1994L0011 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 9