If you pick up a pair of shoes bound for EU, you will find some symbols or wordings printed on the tongue, insole or lining. What you might see is something like:
Or it could also be like this:
(Note: The picture is for demonstration purposes only).
Symbols and wordings are used to illustrate the material type of the main parts of the shoe, including the upper, lining, sock, and outer sole. Labelling requirements for shoe materials are specified by DIRECTIVE 94/11/EC.
1. Shoe parts to be labelled
There are three parts of the shoe that should be marked by pictogram:
2. The type of material to be labelled
3. Way of labelling and important points to note
Graphic representations or one or more languages in the Member States of the European Union can be used to indicate labeling requirements. It is important to note that text marks can be prone to errors. Hence, to avoid any potential issues, we suggest using graphical representations whenever possible.
Labels can be attached to shoes through printing, gluing, embossing, or other means. It is crucial that the labels are conspicuous, firmly attached, and do not mislead consumers.
4. Differences between EU and other markets
- The United States does not have specific standards or regulations on labelling similar to the EU.
- In China, there is a corresponding standard namely QB/T 2673-2013 <Footwear – Specification of marking>, which is different from DIRECTIVE 94/11/EC, as shown below
If you have any questions about footwear labelling for other countries, please contact our technical experts.
