Project B13/DOC/02

Information system. Innovation and strengthening of the information instruments for assessing and processing territorial data for industrial-accident prevention.

In recent years we have seen a constant improvement of quality and security standards in the production and marketing activities of Italian textile products. But the elimination of customs barriers, to be completed in 2005, poses new risks linked to the introduction on the market of textile products whose production process is out of control and very often uses products and processes, which are not allowed within Europe. Therefore the problem refers, on the one hand, to quality and safety certification of Italian products and, on the other hand, to the creation of a control system on imported goods. We aim at improving the safety standards of the textiles present on the Italian market by means of a continuous monitoring activity on the substances used in the production process and in end products as well as on the possible effects on workers and on consumers; this will be possible thanks to the introduction of a continuous self-evaluation process aimed at highlighting product improvement margins and potential risks of imported products. For these reasons, in order to carry out the project, it is essential the creation of a national data bank of chemicals contained in textiles.

1) Identification of harmful substances and compounds used in the textile industry. The first step refers to the identification of all harmful substances and compounds (raw materials or intermediate products), which are used in the textile production process, released during the processing phases or present and/or released in the final product. 2) Collection of all national and Community standards regarding the textile industry. 3) Collection of information on the identified substances/compounds on national and international toxicological data banks. 4) Creation and validation of a standard card for recording all data collected during the first research phase. 5) Data entry and validation. 6) Creation of a national network for sharing data bank information. 7) Definition of the correct procedures and methodologies for the management of the data bank in order be able to collect updated and precise data on all the substances and to allow health authorities, trade unions, consumers' associations and production companies to use them.