The implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been postponed by 12 months to give Member States, economic operators and trading partners additional time to prepare. Traceability and transparency of supply chains ensure that leather products do not contribute to deforestation. In view of the upcoming legal guidelines, we believe it is important to implement the necessary measures and make a proactive contribution. From January 2025, OEKO-TEX® will maintain the proof of origin as part of the OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD certification. This proof of origin will be mandatory for all hides, skins and finished leather from cows or calves. To prove the origin of these items, it is sufficient to present invoices from slaughterhouses or import invoices, which contain, for example, information about the origin. For all leather products (e.g. bags or gloves) and for items made from other animals, specifying the origin is optional.

The time until you receive a OEKO-TEX® certification will vary depending on many different factors including: standard, number of components, number of sites, location, complexity of facilities, time needed to audit, and more. The time for a OEKO-TEX® product certification (STANDARD 100, ORGANIC COTTON, LEATHER STANDARD) depends on individual factors. You can influence these factors by good preparation - with information and documents as complete as possible, e.g. within the scope of your certification application. The testing institute will then be able to discuss the specific testing effort and the resulting time requirements with you. For a OEKO-TEX® company certification (STeP & RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS) an average period of at least three to six months can be expected from the time of application, data collection and evaluation to the audit and issue of the certificate. The actual period of time, however, crucially depends on how long the facility will take to complete the online assessment. For OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT an average period of at least three months can be expected from the time of application, data collection and evaluation to the audit and issue of the certificate. The actual period of time, however, crucially depends on how long the facility will take to provide all relevant documentation, samples and how long it takes to answer the assessment questionnaire. A OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN label can be issued immediately. On average it takes only a few days provided that the conditions regarding MADE IN GREEN are fulfilled, the relevant certificates (STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD, STeP) are already valid and the suppliers accept your requests immediately. Contact the institute in your region to receive a customized time estimation.