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

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

Delegates focused discussions on thestandards and regulations on the safety of products of the US andEurope , ways of using the Restricted Substances List (RSL), and theprospect of inspection of products via index on lead content, chemicalsand brand names.

The 2010 list of restrictedsubstances in the apparel and garment industry in line with AAFA’sstandards was announced at the conference. In addition, AAFA expertsalso delivered speeches on US barriers to garment exports to thismarket.

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

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