[European standard regarding clothing and protection against ultraviolet radiation]

Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes skin damage. An increasing awareness of this must result in people consciously wanting to protect themselves from UVR by means of clothing. The first part of the European standard on UVR-protective clothing--about test methods--is now available. In the second part the classification and labelling of UVR-protective clothing are detailed. The degree of protection the clothing provides against UVR is expressed as the ultraviolet-protection factor (UPF). The UPF is inversely proportional to the quantity of UVR which the clothing allows through. UVR-protective clothing which satisfies the European standard will bear the European UPF label '40+'. To obtain this label the entire clothing must have a UPF of at least 40. The wording: 'Sun exposure causes skin damage', 'Only covered areas are protected' and 'The protection offered by this item may be reduced with use or if the material is stretched or wet' must be added to the label.