Labelling of footwear
In the guide
- The law
- Who is responsible for the labelling?
- Labelling requirements
- Other legislation
- Trading standards
- In this update
Footwear must be labelled with the main materials used for the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole
This guidance is for England, Scotland and Wales
Footwear must be labelled with an indication of the main material from which the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole are made in the form of either pictograms (symbols) or words.
The label should be attached to at least one item of footwear per pair and it may also appear on the packaging.
The law
The Footwear (Indication of Composition) Labelling Regulations 1995 apply to footwear of all descriptions, ranging from simple sandals to thigh-length boots, with the exception of:
- second-hand or worn footwear
- protective footwear
- footwear containing asbestos
- footwear intended for use in play (for example, fancy dress) by children under 14
Who is responsible for the labelling?
It is the responsibility of the manufacturer or importer to ensure thatfootwear is correctly labelledand to supply accurate labels that are not misleading.
It is the responsibility of the retailer to ensure that the footwear they sell is labelled correctly, in accordance with the Regulations. It is therefore recommended that retailers have a system in place for checking footwear labelling before it goes on sale, andthatthese checksare recorded. Retailers can get information about the composition of footwear they sell from manufacturers or importers.
Labelling requirements
The label must state, in English or in a clear pictogram form,what material makes up 80% of:
- the surface area of the upper
- the surface area of the lining and sock (this means the lining of the upper and the insole, which constitutes the inside of the footwear article)
- the outer sole
Where multiple materials are used, the two main materials in the composition of the footwearmust be stated.
The label must be attached to at least one item of footwear in each pair and may be affixed by way of printing, sticking, embossing or use of an attached label; it must be visible, securely attached and accessible. The label may also appear on the packaging but it must be on the footwear itself.
If pictograms are used in a retail shop a notice must be displayed that explains to consumers what the symbols mean. The notice must be large enough so that the information can be seen and understood by consumers.
If pictogram labels are used where footwear is sold from a place consumers do not have access to (for example, mail order or internet sales) the consumer must be clearly informed of the meaning of the pictograms used.
| Parts of footwear | |
|---|---|
|
upper: |
 |
|
lining and sock: |
 |
|
outer sole: |
 |
| Materials used | |
|---|---|
|
leather: |
 |
|
coated leather: |
 |
|
textile: |
 |
|
other materials: |
 |
Other legislation
If any misleading claims regarding footwear are made there may also be breaches of the requirements of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Please see 'Consumer protection from unfair trading' for more information on these Regulations.
Trading standards
For more information on the work of trading standards services - and the possible consequences of not abiding by the law - please see 'Trading standards: powers, enforcement and penalties'.
Key legislation
- Footwear (Indication of Composition) Labelling Regulations 1995
- Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
Last reviewed / updated: December 2020
In this update
No major changes
Please note
This information is intended for guidance; only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.
The guide's 'Key legislation' links may only show the original version of the legislation, although some amending legislation is linked to separately where it is directly related to the content of a guide. Information on amendments to legislation can be found on each link's 'More Resources' tab.
© 2021 itsa Ltd.