ISO/FDIS 23974-1

• Abstract:

  This draft international standard describes the defects which may occur on raw red hair sheep skins. It is applicable to fresh and cured (air dried, wet salted or dry salted) red hair sheep skins.

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 59.140.20 - Raw skins, hides and pelts
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 120/SC 1 - Raw hides and skins, including pickled pelts
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 120/SC 1 - Raw hides and skins, including pickled pelts
• Current Stage: 5000 - FDIS registered for formal approval
• Start Date: 11-May-2026
• Completion Date: 02-Apr-2026

Overview

ISO/FDIS 23974-1 is a draft international standard from ISO for the leather sector. It focuses on red hair sheep skin and provides a clear description of defects that may occur on raw skins. The scope covers both fresh and cured skins, including those that are air dried, wet salted, or dry salted.

This standard is especially relevant for organizations involved in hide and skin assessment, raw material grading, leather processing, and quality control. By identifying common defect types in a consistent way, ISO/FDIS 23974-1 supports clearer communication across the leather supply chain and helps improve the reliability of inspection and sorting practices.

Key Topics

The document organizes defects into three main categories:

• Ante-mortem defects

  • Abscess
  • Fire-marks
  • Grain damage
  • Pox marks
  • Thin skin
  • Veininess
  • Subcutaneous haemorrhage
  • Defects caused by ectoparasites such as lice, sheep scab, ticks, and bobble

• Post-mortem defects

  • Butcher strain
  • Deformation
  • Flay cuts
  • Nicking

• Preservation and storage defects

  • Putrefaction
  • Defects caused by mineral salts in dry salted skins
  • Blood stains
  • Case hardening
  • Folding crack
  • Glossiness
  • Mildew
  • Sticking
  • Stain mark
  • Red heat
  • Salting defect

These defect descriptions provide a practical reference for identifying visible conditions that can affect the quality, appearance, and suitability of red hair sheep skins for further processing.

Applications

ISO/FDIS 23974-1 has practical value in several areas of the leather industry:

• Raw skin inspection and grading
• Buying and selling red hair sheep skins
• Quality assurance in leather processing
• Training for inspectors and skinners
• Improving defect recognition in storage and handling

The standard is particularly useful in regions where red hair sheep are widely available, including Asia and Africa, and where the skins are used for specialized articles. A common defect vocabulary can help reduce misunderstandings between producers, traders, processors, and buyers.

Related Standards

This document is part of the ISO 23974 series on red hair sheep skin. It was prepared by ISO/TC 120/SC 1, Raw hides and skins, including pickled pelts.

Related ISO references and resources include:

• The ISO 23974 series
• ISO Online Browsing Platform for terminology and standard lookup
• IEC Electropedia for term reference support where relevant

For organizations working with leather standards, raw hide classification, and skin defect terminology, ISO/FDIS 23974-1 offers an important foundation for consistent evaluation and international alignment.

FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/TC 120/SC 1
Leather — Red hair sheep skin —
Secretariat: BIS
Part 1:
Voting begins on:
2026-10-06
Description of defects
Voting terminates on:
2026-12-01
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/TC 120/SC 1
Leather — Red hair sheep skin —
Secretariat: BIS
Part 1:
Voting begins on:
Description of defects
Voting terminates on:
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2026
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Defects. 1
4.1 General .1
4.2 Ante-mortem defects .1
4.2.1 General .1
4.2.2 Defects caused by ectoparasites .2
4.3 Post-mortem defect .3
4.3.1 Butcher strain .3
4.3.2 Deformation .3
4.3.3 Flay cuts .3
4.3.4 Nicking .3
4.4 Preservation and storage defects .3
4.4.1 General .3
4.4.2 Dry salted state .3
4.4.3 Raw dry state .4
4.4.4 Salted state .4

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents.ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barri
...

Formatted: French (Switzerland)
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-1
Formatted: French (Switzerland)
ISO/TC 120/SC 1
Secretariat: BIS
Date: 2026-05-1109-21
Leather — Red hair sheep skin —
Part 1:
Description of defects
DISFDIS stage
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VVVVooootintintintingggg te te te termrmrmrmiiiinnnnaaaatetetetessss o o o onnnn:::: 2 2 2 2000022225555----11112222----11111111

ISO/DISFDIS 23974-1:2026(en)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
Formatted: French (Switzerland)
E-mail: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-1:2026(en)
Contents
Foreword . iii
Introduction . iii
Scope . iii
Normative references . iii
Terms and definitions . iii
Defects . iii
General . iii
Ante-mortem defects . iii
Post-mortem defect . iii
Preservation and storage defects . iii
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Defects . 1
4.1 General. 1
4.2 Ante-mortem defects . 1
4.3 Post-mortem defect . 3
4.4 Preservation and storage defects . 3

iii
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-1:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights
in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s)
which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not
represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents.ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 120, Leather, Subcommittee SC 1, Raw hides and
skins, including pickled pelts.
A list of all parts in the ISO 23974 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-1:2026(en)
Introduction
Red hair sheep are available in many regions of the world, in particular Asia and Africa. The skins of red hair
sheep have unique features and are used for specialized articles. The increasing demand for such skins
warrants the creation of a standard for the international community.
v
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-1:2026(en)
Leather — Red hair sheep skin —
Part 1:
Description of defects
1 Scope
This document specifies the defects which that can occur on raw red hair sheep skins. It is applicable to raw
and cured (air dried, wet salted or dry salted) red hair sheep skins.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminologicalterminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
4 Defects
4.1 General
The defects defined in this document are divided into three categories:
a) ante-mortem defects;
b) post-mortem defects;
c) preservation and storage defects.
4.2 Ante-mortem defects
4.2.1 General
...