Certifications & Compliance

Issued by CEN (European Committee for Standardization)

European standard for protective gloves against mechanical risks. The 4-digit code + ISO 13997 cut letter: A (low) to F (high cut resistance). Critical for thorn-proof and rose pruning gloves.

Issued by CEN

Level 0–4 based on cycles to wear through. Garden gloves typically need level 2–4 depending on use case.

Issued by CEN

Original Coupe test (levels 0–5) plus the newer ISO 13997 straight-blade test (letters A–F, 2–30+ Newtons). For high-cut gloves, only ISO 13997 is reliable.

Issued by CEN

Force required to tear the glove material, level 0–4. Important for gloves exposed to snagging branches and thorns.

Issued by CEN

Force required to puncture with a stylus, level 0–4. Thorn-proof gloves should be level 3 or 4.

Issued by CEN

Protective gloves against cold. Three-digit code: convective cold (0–4), contact cold (0–4), water permeability (0/1). Required for winter gardening gloves.

Issued by CEN

Thermal hazards. Six-digit code: abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, contact heat, convective heat. Less common for garden gloves but useful for hot-climate work.

Issued by OEKO-TEX Association

Tests for harmful substances in textiles. Class I (baby), II (skin contact), III (no skin contact). Garden gloves should be Class II minimum, since they touch skin for hours.

Issued by EU ECHA

EU regulation on chemicals. Restricts substances like lead, phthalates, azo dyes, and SVHCs above threshold. Mandatory for any product sold in the EU.

Issued by California OEHHA

California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Requires warnings for products containing chemicals on the Prop 65 list. Common requirement for US-bound garden gloves.

Issued by US CPSC

US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Mandatory for children's products. Tests for lead content, phthalates, sharp points/edges. Required for kids gardening gloves sold in the US.

Issued by ISO

Generic quality management system. Foundation for consistent production quality. All serious glove manufacturers should have this.

Issued by ISO

Environmental management system. Demonstrates commitment to reducing environmental impact — increasingly important for European retailers.

Issued by Textile Exchange

Certifies recycled material content. Increasingly demanded for eco-friendly garden gloves using recycled polyester or rPET.

Issued by GOTS Working Group

Certifies organic fiber (e.g., organic cotton). Niche but growing in premium / sustainable garden glove segments.

Issued by European Commission

Required for gloves sold as Personal Protective Equipment in the EU. Garden gloves are PPE Cat. II (intermediate risk) for most uses, Cat. III for high-cut gloves.

Issued by UK Government

Required for products sold in Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) after Brexit. UK-based labs like SATRA can issue UKCA certification.

Issued by Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand

Australian/New Zealand standard for occupational protective gloves. Required for sale in AU/NZ markets. Similar structure to EN 388.

Issued by Japanese Industrial Standards Committee

Japanese standard for protective gloves. Required for sale in Japan. Less commonly tested for garden gloves but useful for Japanese market entry.