SIST EN 12131:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for the determination of the composition of feather and/or down fit for or constituting filled manufactured articles in order to label and/or mark it or to verify the denominations reported on the label.

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 19-Nov-2025
• Publication Date: 12-Jul-2026
• ICS: 59.040 - Textile auxiliary materials
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 09-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 13-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 13-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: EN 12131:2026 - Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of the quantitative composition of feather and down (manual method)

• Referred By: SIST EN 13854:2004 - Manufactured articles solely filled with feather and down - Requirements for upholstered parts and cushions
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 13186:2005 - Feather and down - Specification for feather and down filled bedding articles
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 13536:2004 - Manufactured articles filled with feather and down - Requirements for clothing - Light use
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 12934:2000 - Feather and down - Composition labelling of processed feathers and down for use as sole filling material
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Revises: SIST EN 12131:2018 - Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of the quantitative composition of feather and down (manual method)
• Effective Date: 24-Jan-2024

Overview

SIST EN 12131:2026, published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST), sets forth the manual method for the determination of the quantitative composition of feather and down in filled manufactured articles. This standard is essential for evaluating the feather and down content used in products such as bedding, clothing, and upholstery, both for accurate product labeling and for verifying label claims in accordance with regulatory requirements.

By providing a standardized approach, SIST EN 12131:2026 helps manufacturers, quality control laboratories, and regulatory bodies ensure the integrity, transparency, and compliance of feather and down-filled articles within the textile industry.

Key Topics

• Manual Separation Method: Outlines a detailed procedure for manually separating and categorizing feather and down components from a sample using designated apparatus, such as separation boxes, analytical balances, and specialized containers.
• Sampling and Conditioning: Specifies requirements for representative sample collection and conditioning under standardized atmospheric conditions, referencing EN 1883 for sampling and EN ISO 139 for environmental control.
• Accurate Weighing and Calculation: Details how each separated component is carefully weighed with analytical balances to determine the percentage composition, ensuring accuracy to two decimal places.
• Classification of Elements: Defines main types of feather and down (e.g., waterfowl feathers, landfowl feathers, down, fibre, quill feathers, milled feathers, and foreign/ residual matter) according to established terminology (EN 1885).
• Test Validation and Reporting: Requires checks for mass loss/gain, calculation of means and relative deviations, and criteria for additional testing to validate results. Specifies mandatory elements of the test report for full traceability and compliance.

Applications

SIST EN 12131:2026 has significant practical value for:

• Manufacturers and Brand Owners: Ensures correct labeling of feather and down-filled products such as duvets, pillows, jackets, mattresses, and sleeping bags, which is critical for market access and consumer trust.
• Quality Control Laboratories: Provides a standard reference method for product verification, supporting internal quality systems or third-party certification schemes.
• Retailers and Distributors: Assists in verifying product claims and label accuracy, helping reduce the risk of non-compliance in the supply chain.
• Regulatory Authorities: Utilized in market surveillance and enforcement to check that filled articles comply with relevant textile product regulations and consumer information directives.
• Consumer Protection: Promotes transparent, reliable product descriptions, enabling consumers to make informed choices regarding the feather and down composition of their purchases.

Related Standards

For consistency across the feather and down industry, SIST EN 12131:2026 should be used in conjunction with:

• EN 1883: Feather and down - Sampling procedures for tests, which provides standardized guidance on obtaining representative samples.
• EN 1885: Feather and down - Terms and definitions, establishing common language for elements and classifications.
• EN ISO 139: Textiles - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing, ensuring samples are prepared under controlled conditions.
• EN 12934: Recommended requirements for labeling of feather and down, detailing the minimum content and declaration norms for marketing.

Adherence to SIST EN 12131:2026, together with related standards, supports robust quality assurance in the feather and down supply chain, fostering confidence in product labeling, regulatory compliance, and consumer protection in the textile market.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Perje in puh - Preskusne metode - Ugotavljanje količinske sestave perja in puha
(ročna metoda)
Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of the quantitative composition of
feather and down (manual method)
Federn und Daunen - Prüfverfahren - Bestimmung der quantitativen Zusammensetzung
von Federn und Daunen (manuelles Verfahren)
Plumes et duvets - Méthodes d'essais - Détermination de la composition quantitative de
plumes et duvets (méthode manuelle)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 12131:2026
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 12131
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 59.040 Supersedes EN 12131:2018
English Version
Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of the
quantitative composition of feather and down (manual
method)
Plumes et duvets - Méthodes d'essai - Détermination Federn und Daunen - Prüfverfahren - Bestimmung der
de la composition quantitative des plumes et duvets quantitativen Zusammensetzung von Federn und
(méthode manuelle) Daunen (manuelles Verfahren)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 31 May 2026.

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
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12131:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
4.1 General. 4
5 Apparatus . 4
6 Sampling, conditioning and preparation of the test specimens . 5
7 Procedure . 5
7.1 General. 5
7.2 First separation . 5
7.3 Second separation . 7
7.4 Milled feathers . 8
8 Calculation and expression of results . 9
8.1 Calculation of the component portions . 9
8.2 Determination of the need for additional testing . 11
8.3 Expression of results . 11
9 Testing variance . 11
10 Test report . 11
Bibliography . 12

European foreword
This document (EN 12131:2026) 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 January 2027 and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2027.
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 12131:2018.
In comparison with the previous edition, the following technical modifications have been made:
— term and definition 3.1 have been newly introduced;
— a new note to 5.1 has been added;
— in 8.3 the decimal points have been upgraded from at least one to two decimal points.
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 organizations 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.
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of the composition of feather and/or down fit
for or constituting filled manufactured articles in order to label and/or mark it or to verify the
denominations reported on the label.
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. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1883, Feather and down — Sampling in view of tests
EN 1885, Feather and down — Terms and definitions
EN ISO 139, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (ISO 139)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 1885 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
substantial element
any element having a mass ≥ 7 % of the total mass in any of the specimen
Note 1 to entry: The average mass is calculated with two tests.
4 Principle
4.1 General
A known quantity of the filling material, sampled according to EN 1883, is separated by hand into its
elements. The elements are collected into separate containers, which are suitably marked.
The content of each container is weighed in order to determine the mass of the element concerned and
therefore to calculate the relative percentages.
5 Apparatus
5.1 Box for the manual separation (separation box), usually consisting of the following parts:
— dark coloured and smooth base about 450 mm in length and about 300 mm in width, having a
suitable fixture or area to insert the containers into;
— front part about 150 mm high open or provided with two openings wide enough to permit the
operators’ hands to enter the box;
— back part about 300 mm high;
— two side parts fit for front and back parts;
— cover, to avoid air draughts during the execution of the test, made of glass or other transparent
material to permit the separation of the elements;
— lamp to allow the illumination of the box.
NOTE It has been experienced that lamps with heat emission especially if placed too close to the specimen
might decrease its moisture content.
5.2 Weighing containers, made of aluminium or other light antistatic material fit to contain and weigh
the different elements of the filling, with a capacity up to 400 ml.
5.3 Tweezers, fit to pick the single elements.
5.4 Analytical balance, with a readability (d) of 0,1 mg or better.
Keep attention on a non-ionized electro statical environment around the balance.
5.5 Mixing container with base dimensions of 300 mm × 300 mm and 150 mm high.
5.6 Flat, soft, non-electrostatic brush, from 2 cm to 3 cm wide.
6 Sampling, conditioning and preparation of the test specimens
6.1 Carry the sampling out according to EN 1883.
6.2 Condition the samples according to EN ISO 139.
6.3 Draw a sample of no less than 30 g from the conditioned laboratory global sample. Pu
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