Q: Which OEKO-TEX product class applies to baby garment zippers?
Standard 100 divides articles into four product classes by how much skin contact they see and by the age of the user. Class I covers articles for babies and children up to three years, including outerwear and trims that a child can mouth. Class II covers articles worn next to the skin over a large area, Class III articles used away from the skin, and Class IV furnishing and decoration materials.
A zipper on a baby jacket is normally certified under Class I, which carries the strictest limits for formaldehyde, extractable heavy metals, azo dyes, organotin and the residue parameters listed in the standard's appendix. The certificate must actually list the tape, the teeth and the metal hardware under the product class you need; a certificate for the tape alone does not cover the slider.
Ask for the certificate and check the article description, the product class, the production site and the validity date. Limits and test methods sit in the standard's appendix, so refer to the standard text when a limit is disputed. Keep the certificate with the technical file and renew the request each year.