On December 28, 2018, China released a new national standard for footwear – GB/T 36975-2018 General Requirement for Footwear.  

Issued by the People's Republic of China State Administration of Market Supervision and Management, and National Standardization Management Committee, GB/T 36975-2018 covers footwear for everyday use. It does not cover footwear designed specifically for:

• Occupational use
• Safety
• Protection
• Athletics

This comprehensive new standard defines terms and definitions, classification, requirements, test methods, inspection rules and marks, packaging, transportation, storage, etc.

For manufacturers and suppliers, highlights of the technical requirements include:

• Appearance:

1. Symmetric, flat, clean, no broken needles or exposed nail tips inside the shoes
2. Insoles must fit properly
3. Feather line must be neat and tight

• Bonding durability of upper-sole:

1. Slipper ≥25N/cm, others ≥40N/cm. When material is torn but still bonded, ≥30N/cm

• Pull-out force of upper:

1. ≥70 N/cm
2. When material is torn but upper is not put out at joint of feather line ≥30N/cm

• Flexing resistance of whole shoe:

1. No crazing or crack grain on upper
2. Length of bonding failure on sidewall, upper-sole or outsole ≤10.0mm
3. New cracks – no more than 3 positions on outsole and each crack ≤5.0mm
4. No coating damage on sole
5. No cracking on welt
6. No air (liquid) leakage if assembled with air (liquid) cushion

• Peeling strength:

1. ≥40N/cm
2. When material is torn but still bonded ≥30N/cm

• Abrasion resistance of outsole: length of abrasion ≤15.0mm
• Adhesion between outsole and midsole:

1. Men and women ≥20N/cm, when cellular sole is torn but still bonded ≥15N/cm
2. Children ≥18N/cm, when cellular sole is torn but still bonded ≥13N/cm

• Color fastness to rubbing of lining and insole:

1. Suede material staining ≥Grade 2-3
2. Fur, artificial wool ≥Grade 3
3. Others ≥Grade 2-3

• Heel attachment strength: ≥700N
• Shank: lowest length, stiffness, hardness, bending property of steel shank must comply with the requirements in GB/T 28011
• Upper flexing resistance at cold temperature (only applies to shoes for low temperature environments):

1. No visible damage on upper material (include crazing, crack grain) after flexing for 30,000 cycles at (-10±2) ℃
2. Decomposable carcinogenic arylamines dyes: Textiles ≤20mg/kg
3. Leather, fur ≤30mg/kg

• Formaldehyde content:

1. Infant shoe ≤20 mg/kg
2. With direct contact to skin ≤75mg/kg
3. Without direct contact to skin ≤300mg/kg (The Aries sheared≤600mg/kg)

Stakeholders should be aware the new standard will come into effect on July 1, 2019. 

SGS Softlines Services

SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in testing of apparel, footwear and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.

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For further information contact:

Louann Spirito

Consumer and Retail — Softlines

US & Canada Softlines Business Head

Tel: +1 973 461 7919

Email: crs.media@sgs.com

Website: www.sgs.com/softlines