AAFA releases Version 26 of its Restricted Substance List
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has published the 26th edition of its Restricted Substance List (RSL), continuing its long-running effort to help the industry manage chemical compliance in apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textiles.
First introduced in 2007, the RSL has become a widely used reference across the global supply chain. It is available not only to AAFA members but also to the wider industry, making it a shared resource for brands, manufacturers, and suppliers working to meet chemical safety requirements.
Version 26 reflects updates to global laws and regulations that restrict or ban certain substances in finished products. The list now covers 16 categories and more than 300 chemicals. These include substances regulated under international frameworks as well as country- and region-specific rules that affect how products are made, tested, and sold.
Alongside the main list, the latest edition includes updated appendices that address reporting and labeling requirements. These cover U.S. state laws related to chemicals in children’s products, European reporting obligations, and various labeling rules that brands must follow in different markets. Together, these sections help companies track not only what substances are restricted, but also where disclosure or labeling is required.
Steve Lamar, president and CEO of AAFA, highlighted the practical value of the RSL for both companies and consumers. Getting dressed is part of everyday life, he noted, and people want confidence that the products they wear are safe and responsibly made. Tools like the RSL support due diligence and compliance efforts, helping companies meet high standards without adding unnecessary complexity.
The RSL is developed and maintained by AAFA’s RSL Task Force, which reviews regulatory changes on an ongoing basis. Each update aims to improve clarity and usability, with Version 26 continuing to enhance search features so users can more easily find relevant requirements.
The release comes just ahead of AAFA’s 2026 Product Safety & Compliance Seminar, scheduled to take place next week in Long Beach, California. The event will bring together industry professionals to discuss current product safety challenges, regulatory updates, and practical compliance approaches.
AAFA has made Version 26 of the Restricted Substance List available (https://www.aafaglobal.org/AAFA/Solutions_Pages/Restricted_Substance_List.aspx) in both PDF and Excel formats, allowing companies to integrate the information into their existing compliance and sourcing workflows.
