AAFA Release Version 26 Restricted Substance List

Today, the American Apparel & Footwear Association published the 26th edition of the Restricted Substance List (RSL).

RSL is an open-industry resource available to both AAFA members and the broader industry, identifying the most restrictive regulations worldwide and providing a reference of all banned and restricted chemicals and substances for finished apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textile products. The Appendices within RSL Version 26 additionally cover the U.S. states whose laws require reporting of chemicals in children's products, European reporting rules, and various labeling requirements.

"Getting dressed is a universal task. With full to-do lists and everyday responsibilities, Americans don't want to stress about whether their clothes are safe or ethically made-they want to trust that they are," said AAFA President and CEO, Steve Lamar. "Resources like the Restricted Substance List help American companies uphold strong due diligence and compliance programs, so we all can feel confident that our clothing meets high standards for quality and responsibility."

Next week, AAFA convenes the industry for its 2026 Product Safety & Compliance Seminar in Long Beach, California. This event will cover the current product safety and compliance environment, including the latest regulations and best practices for compliance.

The Version 26 RSL covers 16 categories with more than 300 chemicals and is updated to reflect additions or changes to regulations and laws that restrict or ban certain chemicals in finished apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textile products. First published in 2007, the RSL is produced by AAFA's RSL Task Force, which reviews and updates the list regularly with increased searchability tactics to reflect the latest global regulatory changes.

The RSL can be accessed as both PDF and Excel.