The safety of products and restricted substances in the garment and apparel industry were the main topics of an international conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 11.

The conference was jointly held by the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO) and the Apparel and Footwear International Restricted Substances List Management Working Group (AFIRM).

Delegates focused discussions on the standards and regulations on the safety of products of the US and Europe , ways of using the Restricted Substances List (RSL), and the prospect of inspection of products via index on lead content, chemicals and brand names.

The 2010 list of restricted substances in the apparel and garment industry in line with AAFA’s standards was announced at the conference. In addition, AAFA experts also delivered speeches on US barriers to garment exports to this market.

The US is regarded as Vietnam ’s largest garment importer, but it also has the most strict laws and regulations on the safety of products, distribution networks, verification of products and protection of consumer interests.

The experts recommended Vietnamese garment producers thoroughly grasp and fully abide by laws of 19 of the largest of the 50 US states if they want to distribute products widely to the whole country./.