OEKO-TEX · GOTS · GRS · NOM-004 · NOM-141
Textile, environmental and safety certifications for corporate merch
The certifications that apply by product type and target market. The list is not exhaustive — certifications must be verified against current regulation at the time of each operation — but it covers the ones most frequently asked for by clients running programmes in Mexico, the United States and Europe.
Textile certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and STEP
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifies that every component of the textile product — threads, buttons, closures, interlining, label — has been tested against a list of harmful substances and falls below the established limits. We work with fabrics that hold a current OEKO-TEX certificate when the customer requires it, and we share the lot certificate number so it sits in your file. The certification renews annually with a supplier audit.
OEKO-TEX STEP certifies the production plant, not the product. It evaluates working conditions, chemical management, environmental responsibility and social compliance. The partner workshops we work with for sewing hold current OEKO-TEX STEP certification when the customer requires it for European markets — Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordics — and for corporates with a public commitment to textile supply chains.
Organic cotton: GOTS and OCS
The Global Organic Textile Standard — GOTS — covers the chain from organic cotton harvest to finished product: minimum seventy per cent organic fibre content, chemical restrictions throughout the process, social criteria at the production plant and traceability from field to brand. We work with GOTS yarns for t-shirts, sweatshirts and towels when the customer requires a verifiable organic line.
The Organic Content Standard — OCS — verifies organic material content without addressing the full environmental and social criteria of GOTS. It is useful when the customer wants to attest organic content but does not require the full GOTS scope. The difference matters in ESG reporting: a GOTS programme is reported as fully certified organic; an OCS programme is reported as verified organic content.
Recycled polyester: GRS and RCS
The Global Recycled Standard — GRS — certifies the recycled content of the product, custody chain from material recovery through to brand, social criteria at the production plant and chemical restrictions. We work with GRS recycled polyester for tote bags, backpacks, jackets and bottles when the customer requires it for their circular economy programme. Recycled content is verified lot by lot with the supplier certificate.
The Recycled Claim Standard — RCS — is the recycled counterpart of OCS: verifies content without addressing the full criteria. When a customer requires ocean-bound plastic — for example bottles collected in coastal zones — the supplier must demonstrate origin with collection chain documentation. Traceability is what differentiates a generic claim from a verifiable one.
Textile labelling in Mexico: NOM-004-SCFI-2006
NOM-004-SCFI-2006 regulates the labelling of textile, apparel, footwear and accessory products. The label must include country of origin, fibre composition — with tolerance per NOM-008-SCFI-2002 — manufacturer or importer, tax address where applicable, sizing per NOM-020-SCFI-1997 where applicable, and care instructions. Composition tolerances are three per cent for individual fibres on finished textiles.
For products sold in the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling also applies. The combined Mexico-EU label is built by verifying the requirements of both regulations. For US sales, the Federal Trade Commission regulates fibre claims under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.
Beverage and food kits: NOM-141-SSA1-SCFI-2012
When a kit includes beverage or food — a mug with coffee, a backpack with tea, a box with cookies and wine — NOM-141-SSA1-SCFI-2012 applies to the beverage component and the relevant sanitary regulation to the food component. For alcoholic beverage — wine, mezcal, tequila — the label must comply with NOM-142-SSA1-SCFI-2014 and the IEPS Law.
For programmes combining merch with beverage, we deliver a statement that the beverage producer is authorised by the sanitary authority and that the product holds current documentation. For food kits with imported products, the label must comply with Mexican labelling in Spanish regardless of the product's original language.
Electrical items: NOM-024 and NOM-003
For items that connect to mains power — chargers, power banks, headphones with charging cable, desk lamps, USB fans — NOM-024-SCFI-2013 on commercial information and NOM-003-SCFI-2014 on electrical safety apply. The product must hold a current NOM-003 certificate issued by an accredited certification body and the NOM compliance mark.
For export markets, local certifications apply — UL or ETL in the US, CE in Europe, UKCA in the UK, PSE in Japan. Certification cost for electrical items is significant and is normally covered once per model; when the customer requires a new model, certification can take six to twelve weeks. We factor that into planning.
Toy safety and children's products: NOM-015 and ASTM F963
When merch targets children — corporate mascots, plush items, paint sets, modelling clay, branded memory games — additional regulations apply. In Mexico, NOM-015-SCFI-2003 on toy safety and NOM-024-SCFI-2013 apply. For US export, ASTM F963 and CPSIA. For Europe, EN 71 and the Toy Safety Directive.
Items going to children must meet heavy metal migration limits — lead, cadmium, phthalates — and mechanical resistance to bite, pull and drop. When the customer had not considered the children's scope of the product, we flag it before quoting so the required certifications are aligned.
FAQ — certifications block
Does Corp-Merch.MX issue the certification?
No. Textile and environmental certifications are issued by the material supplier. Electrical certifications are issued by an accredited certification body. We share the current certificates when you need them.
How much extra does GOTS add to a t-shirt line?
The extra cost depends on the textile supplier and the volume. For typical corporate runs, the per-piece extra ranges from eight to twenty per cent relative to an equivalent conventional line. The premium is validated with the supplier before quoting.
Can you handle NOM-003 certification for a new electrical item?
Yes, but certification for a new model takes six to twelve weeks. We ask for the brief to include planning at least three months ahead of programme launch.
What happens if the product does not meet the applicable NOM?
The product is not shipped to the customer until the breach is corrected. If already shipped, it is recalled and replaced. The cost of non-compliance is borne by the workshop or the input supplier per contractual responsibility.
Request the list of current certifications
If you are about to start a merch programme with specific certification requirements, let's talk. We deliver a list with current certificates from textile suppliers, partner workshops and the certification bodies we work with.
The certifications described on this page must be verified against current regulation and standards at the time of each operation. Certifications are issued by third parties; Corp-Merch.MX does not issue them. The list is referential and not exhaustive. Corp-Merch.MX is a Mexican workshop for corporate merch; we operate independently.