How to Get into the French Market
The European Union (EU), especially France, is great for Indian textile and clothing exporters to do business. But to get into these markets, you have to deal with many complicated rules. This means strict rules about chemical safety, environmental impact, and being able to trace products. Indian exporters need to get ready to fulfil new requirements established for 2025 and beyond because the EU keeps raising the bar for product safety and sustainability.
In this detailed guide, we will look at the most important compliance standards that Indian apparel exporters need to meet. These include: REACH compliance for Indian textiles, the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification process, GOTS certification for organic textiles, regulations for exporting apparel to France, EU textile import requirements for 2025, French market entry for Indian apparel exporters, sustainable textile production standards, EU deforestation regulation compliance, and traceability in textile supply chains.
By the end of this tutorial, you will know everything there is to know about the rules, how to follow them, and the strategic benefits these certifications give you.
How to Understand REACH Compliance for Indian Textiles
What is REACH?
The European Union’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) is a law (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) that protects people and the environment from the dangers that chemicals pose. It has an effect on all products that come into the EU, such as clothes, textiles, accessories, and shoes.
Why it Matters for Indian Exporters
When Indian exporters send textiles to France or any other EU country, they need to make sure that their goods don’t include any banned ingredients or are below the limits that are allowed. Not following the rules can lead to shipments being turned down, fines, and ruined business relationships. In France, consumers and brands are also asking for more openness and safety when it comes to chemicals.
Steps to Make Sure You Follow REACH:
1. Make a list of all the chemicals used in textile processing.
2. Look at the SVHC List: Check your chemicals against the EU’s list of very dangerous substances.
3. Testing and Certification: Use certified labs to check for compliance.
4. Documentation: Keep complete technical documentation and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
5. Registration: If you use a lot of chemicals, you may need to register them with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
It is not up to Indian textiles to follow REACH rules. It’s a must for any significant business deal with EU clientele. To make sure everything is the same, manufacturers also need to train their employees and work with their supply chain partners.
In 2025, REACH will be updated to better keep an eye on microplastics and chemicals that mess with hormones. This means that textile manufacturers need to be more careful when choosing and keeping track of chemicals.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certification Process
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a certification that is known all over the world and makes sure that textiles are checked for dangerous compounds. The accreditation applies to every part of a finished product, from the threads and buttons to the linings and labels.
What OEKO-TEX Means in 2025
Starting in April 2025, OEKO-TEX has made its rules stricter. For example, there are higher limits on bisphenol A (BPA) and more severe traceability requirements for leather and synthetic materials. These adjustments are in line with the EU’s changing textile import rules for 2025, which favour safer and cleaner ways of making things.
Process for getting OEKO-TEX Certification
1. Choose a Testing Institute: Pick an accredited institute, such as Hohenstein, AITEX, or SGS.
2. Send in samples: Send in samples of the fabric and parts for testing.
3. Laboratory Analysis: Tests for more than 1,000 dangerous chemicals, such as formaldehyde, pesticides, and phthalates.
4. On-site audit: The facilities are checked to make sure they are always following the rules.
5. Certification and Renewal: You need to renew your certification every year, and it is only good for 12 months.
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification procedure gives buyers more trust, making it easier to enter the French and European markets in general. Many big stores and fashion designers see it as a must in practice.
Indian exporters can also get other OEKO-TEX certifications that go along with OEKO-TEX, such as MADE IN GREEN and STeP. These certifications make the textile supply chain more open and help with traceability.
GOTS Certification for Organic Fabrics
What does GOTS mean
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the most important standard for processing organic fibres. It has social and environmental standards, and the whole textile supply chain is independently certified to support it. It is one of the most well-known standards for making textiles in a way that is good for the environment.
Important Requirements
• At least 70% of the fibres are organic.
• No genetically modified organisms (GMOs), harmful heavy metals, or formaldehyde.
• Following social standards, including fair pay and safe working conditions.
Process of Getting Certified
1. Application: You can apply through a certifying authority that has been approved.
2. Inspection: Every year, the whole supply chain is checked.
3. Testing of Products: Random samples are tested.
4. Approval: The certification is good for one year.
As people in France become more environmentally conscious about their fashion choices, they are asking for GOTS certification for organic materials more and more. Many big French stores prefer suppliers with this certification, notably for baby and children’s clothes. GOTS also helps meet the growing need for traceability in textile supply chains by keeping track of the whole process from farm to garment.
Legal and Regulatory Situation for Sending Clothes to France
As a member of the EU, France has rigorous rules for imports and quality. To be successful, you need to understand and get ready for these needs.
Important Rules
1. General Product Safety Directive (GPSD): Makes sure that all items sold in the EU are safe.
2. Textile Labelling Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011: Requires that fibre content be labelled correctly.
3. Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020: Lets authorities check products at the border and stop those that don’t meet standards.
Important Papers
• Commercial Invoice
• GSP Certificate of Origin (for lower tariffs)
• Certificates of Testing (REACH, OEKO-TEX, GOTS)
• Safety statements and technical documents for products
There are severe rules for exporting clothes to France, but Indian exporters can satisfy and even exceed these rules if they plan. It’s also important to keep up with changes in the rules by reading trade bulletins and getting help from customs advisors when you need it. Starting in 2025, French customs will pay more attention to sustainability and traceability, which is in line with EU rules for importing textiles.
What Will Change About EU Textile Import Requirements in 2025
Starting in 2025, the EU will put in place stricter rules about safety and the environment that focus on:
• Chemical Safety: The REACH framework will now cover microplastics and new PFAS limits.
• Sustainability: Choosing certified organic and eco-friendly goods over others.
• Traceability: Need for thorough records of where products come from.
• Waste Reduction: Promoting practices that support a circular economy and extended producer responsibility (EPR).
• Digital Product Passport: Products will need to have digital documents that are connected to QR codes.
The new EU rules for importing textiles in 2025 are making people want textiles that are certified, traceable, and good for the environment. To stay competitive, Indian exporters should start creating a compliance infrastructure now.
To help smaller firms satisfy these new rules, Indian textile groups and export promotion councils are providing training and financial assistance. To follow these requirements, it will be important to learn about the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification procedure and work towards getting GOTS certification for organic textiles.
Indian Clothing Exporters Might Enter the French Market
France is a fashion-forward country that cares about quality, sustainability, and getting things from ethical sources. This is both a difficulty and an opportunity for Indian exporters.
How to Get into the Market
1. Build Relationships: Work with local distributors and go to trade shows like Texworld Paris and Première Vision.
2. Get Trustworthy Certifications: To establish buyer trust, focus on getting REACH, OEKO-TEX, and GOTS certifications.
3. Know the Culture: French customers like honesty, stories, and history. Tell the story of your fabrics, artisan work, and journey towards sustainability.
4. Use e-commerce: As online sales grow, think about working with online platforms and B2B marketplaces.
For Indian clothing exporters to get into the French market, they need to do more than just ship their goods. They need to develop a brand around quality, accountability, and innovation. French buyers will be more likely to buy from Indian companies that meet the standards for making textiles in a way that is good for the environment.
Standards for Making Textiles in a Sustainable Way
It’s no longer a choice to be sustainable; it’s what the market wants. To be successful in the long run, businesses need to follow sustainable textile production standards. These criteria are becoming more and more important for entering both premium and mainstream European markets.
Important Certifications
• OEKO-TEX STeP: For making leather and textiles in a way that is good for the environment.
• OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN: A label for sustainable textiles that can be traced back to the source.
• Eco Passport: For safe use of chemicals.
• ISO 14001: A standard for environmental management systems.
Using sustainable methods cuts down on waste, saves energy, and makes sure that new EU rules are followed. India’s Project SU.RE and ZED certifications are two examples of government programs that can help exporters in this way. Meeting sustainable textile production standards not only makes it easier for French retailers to do business with you, but it also protects your firm against new EU rules that may come into effect.
Following the EU’s rules on Deforestation
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) wants to make sure that items that come into the EU are not connected to deforestation. It applies to goods like leather, rubber, and wood-based materials.
What this Means for People Who Export Textiles
• Leather Goods: Must be able to track the raw materials back to the farm.
• Wood-Based Fibres (like viscose and lyocell): Need documentation that the forests are being managed in a way that is good for the environment.
• Due Diligence: Importers must assess risks and give the geo-coordinates of where the goods are made.
Compliance with EU rules on deforestation is likely to affect what buyers in France want, especially for high-end companies and people who care about the environment. Indian exporters need to change how they get their goods and how they keep records.
Traceability in the Textile Supply Chain
European retailers are making traceability in textile supply chains a must for doing business with them. It makes sure that people are responsible and helps check claims of sustainability.
How to Make Traceability Work
1. Digital Tracking: Use software or blockchain to keep an eye on every step of the production process.
2. Documentation at the Component Level: Keep records from the fibre to the finished product.
3. Integration of Certifications: Add OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and REACH data to your digital traceability systems.
More and more, brands and regulators want things to be clear. Using traceability solutions helps you achieve both legal and business requirements, creates confidence with customers, and lowers risks in the supply chain.
Final Thoughts: Use Compliance to Your Advantage in Business
Indian clothing exporters have a great chance to make a name for themselves in the French and EU markets. Following the rules isn’t a problem; it’s an edge over the competition. Your firm is ready for the future if you make sure that your operations follow REACH compliance for Indian textiles, go through the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification procedure, get GOTS certification for organic textiles, and fulfill all of the EU textile import standards for 2025. The European textile market is built on three main ideas: sustainability, safety, and traceability. If you master them, you can not only succeed in the French market, but you can also make money. Smart compliance today
FAQs
REACH compliance refers to adhering to the EU regulation that controls the use of chemical substances in products. For Indian textile exporters, REACH compliance ensures that their garments, fabrics, and accessories do not contain harmful or restricted chemicals.
It involves testing textiles for harmful substances and auditing factories to ensure safety, helping Indian exporters meet EU textile import requirements in 2025.
GOTS certifies organic and ethical textile production, making Indian products more attractive in France’s eco-conscious market.
Indian exporters must follow EU rules like REACH, proper labeling, product safety standards, and provide documentation like testing certificates.
Key documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, GSP Certificate of Origin, and REACH or GOTS compliance certificates.
