ISO/FDIS 23974-2

• Abstract:

  This draft international standard prescribes guidelines for classification of raw or cured, trimmed red hair sheep skins on the basis of visually apparent defects.

• 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 23974-2 is a draft international standard for the leather industry that provides guidelines for grading red hair sheep skins on the basis of defects. It applies to raw or cured, trimmed red hair sheep skins and focuses on visually apparent defects that affect classification and commercial value.

This standard supports more consistent leather grading, helping manufacturers, traders, and buyers evaluate skins using a shared approach. It is especially relevant for organizations involved in raw hides and skins, quality control, and leather supply chain assessment.

Key Topics

The standard organizes defects into clear categories and links them to grading outcomes. Key areas include:

• Animal health-related defects

  • Diseases
  • Abscesses
  • Tumours

• Breeding and marking defects

  • Brands
  • Hot iron or chemical branding
  • Freeze branding

• Insect and parasite damage

  • Lice
  • Worms
  • Mange
  • Ticks

• Wounds and processing damage

  • Bruises
  • Scratches
  • Tears
  • Horn rake
  • Wire damage
  • Cuts and scores from flaying

• Preservation defects

  • Putrefaction
  • Chemical stains
  • Hair slip
  • Red heat

• Dirt contamination

  • Dung
  • Urine stains
  • Sand
  • Dust

The grading system defines four grades plus rejection. Each grade reflects the type, location, and concentration of defects, with stricter expectations for the central part of the skin and the best part of the skin. Skins with defects beyond the permitted limits, or with major processing limitations, are classified as rejects.

Applications

ISO/FDIS 23974-2 is useful in practical leather operations where objective skin grading is needed. Typical applications include:

• Leather procurement and purchasing
• Incoming quality inspection
• Sorting and grading of sheep skins
• Trade and contract specification
• Quality assurance in leather production
• Supply chain communication between sellers and processors

By using a shared grading framework, companies can improve consistency, transparency, and comparability in leather grading decisions. This can help reduce disputes, support fair pricing, and streamline material selection for downstream processing.

Related Standards

This document is part of the ISO 23974 series for leather and red hair sheep skins. It is prepared by ISO/TC 120/SC 1, which covers raw hides and skins, including pickled pelts.

Related standardization considerations include:

• ISO leather standards for terminology and grading practices
• Guidance used across the raw hides and skins sector
• Standardization resources maintained by ISO and IEC terminology databases

As a draft international standard, ISO/FDIS 23974-2 contributes to harmonized red hair sheep skin grading and supports quality-based decision-making across the leather industry.

FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/TC 120/SC 1
Leather — Red hair sheep skins —
Secretariat: BIS
Part 2:
Voting begins on:
2026-10-06
Guidelines for grading on the basis
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 skins —
Secretariat: BIS
Part 2:
Voting begins on:
Guidelines for grading on the basis
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
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Faults and defects . 1
5 Grading on the basis of defects . 1
5.1 General .1
5.2 First grade .2
5.3 Second grade .2
5.4 Third grade .2
5.5 Fourth grade .2
6 Rejection . 3

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
...

Formatted: French (Switzerland)
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-2
Formatted: French (Switzerland)
ISO/TC 120/SC 1
Secretariat: BIS
Date: 2026-05-1109-09
Leather — Red hair sheep skins —
Part 2:
Guidelines for grading on the basis 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 23974-2:2026(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 23974-2:2026(en)
Contents
Foreword . iii
Scope . iii
Normative references . iii
Terms and definitions . iii
Faults and defects . iii
Grading on the basis of defects . iii
General . iii
First grade . iii
Second grade . iii
Third grade . iii
Fourth grade . iii
Rejection . iii
Foreword . iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Faults and defects . 1
5 Grading on the basis of defects . 1
5.1 General. 2
5.2 First grade . 2
5.3 Second grade . 2
5.4 Third grade . 2
5.5 Fourth grade . 3
6 Rejection . 3

iii
ISO/DISFDIS 23974-2:2026(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 Electr
...