EN 12934:2025

Feather and down - Composition labelling of processed feathers and down for use as sole filling material

This document establishes provisions for the labelling of the composition of the components of the plumage for use as fillings and of the fowl species from which such components are derived (waterfowl or landfowl).
It is applicable to finished feather and down materials used as fillings of manufactured articles at each stage in their commercial distribution.
This document is not applicable for fillings totally containing more than 2 % of foreign matter (see 3.4).

Federn und Daunen - Kennzeichnung der Zusammensetzung von fertig bearbeiteten Federn und Daunen als alleiniges Füllmaterial

Dieses Dokument legt Vorschriften für die Kennzeichnung der Zusammensetzung der Elemente des Gefieders zur Verwendung als Füllungen sowie der Geflügelart fest, von der solche Elemente stammen (Wassergeflügel oder Landgeflügel).
Es ist anwendbar auf fertig bearbeitete Elemente des Gefieders (Federn und Daunen), die als Füllungen für Fertigerzeugnisse in jeder Stufe der Handelskette verwendet werden.
Dieses Dokument ist nicht anwendbar für Füllungen, die insgesamt mehr als 2 % Fremdbestandteile (siehe 3.4) enthalten.

Plumes et duvets - Étiquetage de la composition des plumes et duvets traités pour utilisation comme unique produit de garnissage

Le présent document établit des dispositions concernant l’étiquetage de la composition des composants du plumage utilisés comme garnissage et des espèces d’oiseaux dont proviennent ces composants (oiseaux aquatiques ou terrestres).
Il est applicable pour les plumes et duvets finis, utilisés comme garnissages d’articles manufacturés à chaque étape de leur commercialisation.
Le présent document n’est pas applicable aux garnissages contenant au total plus de 2 % de matière étrangère (voir 3.4).

Perje in puh - Označevanje sestave predelanega perja in puha za uporabo kot edino polnilo

Ta dokument vsebuje določbe za označevanje sestave delov perja, ki se uporablja kot polnilo, in vrst ptic, iz katerih so ti deli pridobljeni (vodne ali kopenske ptice).
Uporablja se za končne materiale iz perja in puha, ki se uporabljajo kot polnila industrijskih izdelkov na vseh ravneh komercialne distribucije.
Ta dokument se ne uporablja za polnila, ki vsebujejo skupno več kot 2 % tujih snovi (glej točko 3.4).

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Feb-2025
• ICS: 59.040 - Textile auxiliary materials
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 443 - Feather and down
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 443/WG 3 - Feather and down testing, identification and labelling
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 19-Feb-2025
• Due Date: 11-Oct-2024
• Completion Date: 19-Feb-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 12934:2025 - Feather and down - Composition labelling of processed feathers and down for use as sole filling material

Relations

• Replaces: EN 12934:1999 - Feather and down - Composition labelling of processed feathers and down for use as sole filling material
• Effective Date: 23-Dec-2020

Overview

EN 12934:2025 is a European standard developed by CEN that sets out the composition labelling requirements for processed feathers and down used exclusively as filling materials. This updated standard supersedes EN 12934:1999 and reflects modern market conditions, processing methods, and consumer demands. It governs both the content declaration of the plumage components and the identification of the fowl species source (waterfowl or landfowl). The standard applies to finished feather and down fillings at every stage of commercial distribution, promoting transparency, consumer protection, and market harmonization across European countries.

EN 12934:2025 distinctly excludes fillings with more than 2% foreign matter, underlining the importance of quality and purity in feather and down products for manufacturing.

Key Topics

Composition Labelling

• Component percentages: Feather and down contents must be expressed as a percentage of the total filling mass, rounded to the nearest 10% with exceptions for specific blends.
• Classification of other elements: The standard categorizes other plumage elements based on their mass content:
  • Class I: <12.5% other elements
  • Class II: 12.5–20% other elements
  • Class III: ≥20% other elements (mandatory disclosure with detailed labelling)
• Tolerance levels: Tolerances between the quantitative analysis and labelling are specified to ensure accuracy and consumer confidence, with minimum down cluster contents defined for each disclosed down percentage.

Fowl Species Identification

• Waterfowl and landfowl: Labels must specify whether fillings originate from waterfowl (such as ducks and geese) or landfowl. The standard allows optional specification of species such as goose or duck under defined concentration thresholds.
• Blended fillings: Clear guidelines are provided for labelling mixes of landfowl and waterfowl. Terms like “landfowl/waterfowl” or “waterfowl/landfowl” depend on species proportion, aiding transparency.

Fill Power Labelling

• Optional Fill Power Declaration: EN 12934:2025 permits manufacturers to label the fill power, which measures the volumetric loft and insulating capability of down.
• Standardized test method: Fill power labelling must follow EN 12130, with a mandatory note on the conditioning method used, ensuring consistency and comparability.
• Units and conversions: The standard provides tables converting fill power into cm³/g and in³/30 g, facilitating international understanding.

Sampling and Testing

• Standardized methods: Sampling and testing for compositional accuracy must adhere to EN 1883 (sampling) and EN 12131 (quantitative analysis).
• This ensures uniform evaluation of feather and down materials throughout the supply chain.

Applications

EN 12934:2025 is essential for manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers of feather and down-filled products, such as:

• Textile industry: Pillows, duvets, jackets, sleeping bags, and upholstery using feather and down fillings.
• Quality assurance: Allows manufacturers to guarantee the integrity and sustainability of filling materials.
• Consumer protection: Ensures that buyers receive accurate product information regarding the feather/down composition and the origin species.
• Supply chain transparency: Guides proper labelling at each commercial distribution stage, from processing plants to retail outlets.
• Sustainability efforts: Supports differentiation of recycled or blended fillings through composition and foreign matter limits.

Related Standards

EN 12934:2025 references and aligns with the following European standards for comprehensive quality and labelling control:

• EN 1883: Feather and down - Sampling in view of tests.
• EN 1885:2018: Feather and down - Terms and definitions.
• EN 12131:2018: Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of quantitative composition.
• EN 12130: Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of fill power (massic volume).

These standards work in combination to establish a robust framework for the testing, analysis, and labelling of feather and down materials.

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Keywords: EN 12934:2025, feather and down, composition labelling, filling materials, waterfowl, landfowl, fill power, feather filling, down clusters, textile auxiliary materials, European standard, CEN standards, feather and down testing, commercial labelling, consumer protection, quality assurance.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2025
Perje in puh - Označevanje sestave predelanega perja in puha za uporabo kot
edino polnilo
Feather and down - Composition labelling of processed feathers and down for use as
sole filling material
Federn und Daunen - Kennzeichnung der Zusammensetzung von fertig bearbeiteten
Federn und Daunen als alleiniges Füllmaterial
Plumes et duvets - Etiquetage de composition des plumes et duvets traités pour
utilisation comme unique produit de garnissage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 12934:2025
ICS:
59.040 Pomožni materiali za tekstilije Textile auxiliary materials
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 12934
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
February 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 59.040 Supersedes EN 12934:1999
English Version
Feather and down - Composition labelling of processed
feathers and down for use as sole filling material
Plumes et duvets - Étiquetage de la composition des Federn und Daunen - Kennzeichnung der
plumes et duvets traités pour utilisation comme Zusammensetzung von fertig bearbeiteten Federn und
unique produit de garnissage Daunen als alleiniges Füllmaterial
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 January 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12934:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General. 6
5 Components composition labelling . 7
5.1 Percentages . 7
5.2 Classification. 7
5.2.1 Limits for other elements . 7
5.2.2 Class I . 7
5.2.3 Class II . 7
5.2.4 Class III . 7
6 Tolerances for down labelling . 8
7 Fowl species composition labelling. 8
7.1 Waterfowl species. 8
7.2 Landfowl species . 9
7.3 Blends of landfowl and waterfowl species . 9
8 Fill power labelling . 10
9 Sampling and analysis method . 11
10 Information in the distribution chain . 11
Bibliography . 12

European foreword
This document (EN 12934:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 443 “Feather and
down”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by August 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by August 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 12934:1999.
— Scope has been updated;
— Normative references have been updated;
— Clause 3 has been improved with new definitions;
— The proportion of foreign matter has been increased from 0,5 % to 2 % (it was necessary because
more and more recycled fillings would be coming onto the market in future, which would
automatically contain a higher proportion of foreign matter);
— Clause 5 has been modified (removed 5.4 to 5.6);
— Table 1 has been modified;
— Clause 6 has been modified (text has been added and Table 2 has been modified);
— Table 4 has been modified;
— A new Clause 8 has been added and the following clauses have been renumbered;
— Bibliography has been updated.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
Before 1999, fillings of feather and down were covered by different, sometimes conflicting, standards in
the various CEN countries. These national standards were replaced by EN 12934:1999, which provided
uniform labelling of down and feather products in all CEN countries.
Because of changing market conditions, changing down and feather processing methods, and changing
consumer and retailer demands, revisions to EN 12934 were necessary.
The revised EN 12934 meets the needs of these changes with the same goals as the original version of
EN 12934, to provide unambiguous labelling in terms of:
— denominations of the components of plumage and of fowl species;
— information to be stated on product labels and in commercial documents within the supply chain
with reference to plumage and plumage-filled finished products;
— composition testing results to identify the correct label disclosure, taking into account the relevant
tolerance.
1 Scope
This document establishes provisions for the labelling of the composition of the components of the
plumage for use as fillings and of the fowl species from which such components are derived (waterfowl
or landfowl).
It is applicable to finished feather and down materials used as fillings of manufactured articles at each
stage in their commercial distribution.
This document is not applicable for fillings totally containing more than 2 % of foreign matter (see 3.4).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. F
...