Textile products can only be certified according to the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex if all components comply with the required criteria – for an item of clothing, in addition to the outer fabric, this might include threads, linings, prints as well as non-textile accessories such as buttons, zip fasteners, rivets or any other accessory parts.
Extent and requirements of Oeko-Tex testing for harmful substances depend on the intended use of a textile product. There are four product classes:
- Product class I – Items for babies and infants (up to 36 months of age)
- Product class II – Items with direct prolonged or large-area skin contact
- Product class III – Textiles without or with little skin contact
- Product class IV – Furnishing materials for decorative purposes (curtains, table linen, carpets, etc.)
Product class I requirements are more rigorous for most potentially harmful substances, and there is an additional test for saliva resistance.