EN 18225:2026

EN 18225:2026 is a CEN standard for labelling the composition of processed feather and down fillings blended with other materials. It tells manufacturers, suppliers and traders how to declare the plumage content, the non-plumage content and the relevant species information for fillings used in manufactured articles throughout commercial distribution.

What does EN 18225:2026 specify?

EN 18225:2026 specifies how to label the composition of fillings that contain both plumage and non-plumage materials. It is written for feather and down blends used as fillings in manufactured articles, and it applies along the distribution chain.

The scope is limited to fillings with more than 2 % non-plumage materials, as measured by the related test method. It does not apply to fillings with more than 5 % foreign matter.

The document is organized into:

• Scope
• Normative references
• Terms and definitions
• General requirements
• Components composition labelling
• Information in the distribution chain
• Annex A with labelling examples

What are the key requirements of EN 18225:2026?

EN 18225:2026 requires the label to match the measured composition of the blended filling. Clause 4 links the labelling to test results from the companion test method, so the declared composition is not a free description but a controlled statement based on analysis.

Main labelling rules

• Clause 5.1 - separate and total composition

  • The label shall show plumage components and non-plumage components separately, in descending order by mass.
  • The sum of all labelled components shall equal 100 %.
  • In practice, the label must give a complete composition statement that adds up clearly and consistently.

• Clause 5.1 - rounding and grouping

  • Plumage and non-plumage components are rounded to the nearest 5 % of the total.
  • Other elements are only shown when they exceed 15 % of the total.
  • Feather percentage is calculated as the remainder after down and non-plumage filling material, unless other elements are above that threshold.
  • In practice, the label is simplified into stable groups rather than exact laboratory decimals.

• Clause 5.2 - down declaration

  • The declared down percentage comes from the final down count in the quantitative analysis.
  • The value is stated in groups rounded to the closest 5 %.
  • In practice, the down content on the label follows the analytical result rather than an estimated product description.

• Clause 5.3 - fowl species labelling

  • Species percentages are calculated only from the plumage components.
  • For waterfowl, the label may use “waterfowl”, with optional goose or duck wording depending on the percentage bands given in Table 1.
  • For landfowl, the label shall use “landfowl” when applicable.
  • For blends of landfowl and waterfowl, the label uses the wording set out in Table 2, and species percentages are rounded in groups of 10 percentage points.
  • In practice, the buyer can identify whether the plumage comes mainly from waterfowl, landfowl, or both.

• Clause 5.4 - non-plumage filling

  • The total mass of non-plumage filling shall be clearly stated as a percentage of total filling mass.
  • If the non-plumage filling contains textile fibres, their fibre composition is labelled under the applicable textile rules.
  • Other non-plumage materials have to be described clearly, accurately and in a verifiable way.
  • In practice, the label must tell the user what the non-plumage material actually is.

• Clause 6 - information in the distribution chain

  • A composition label shall accompany the filling.
  • This also applies to blended fillings offered for sale.
  • In practice, the composition information has to travel with the product, not just appear in internal records.

What terms does EN 18225:2026 define?

EN 18225:2026 uses the following key terms in clause 3:

• Blended filling - a mix of plumage and non-plumage materials used for insulation or stuffing in manufactured articles.
• Plumage filling - feather and down that has passed through the working processes, including washing, drying and hygienic treatment.
• Non-plumage filling - any filling material other than feather and down.
• Down - plumage from waterfowl undercoating, made of light fluffy filaments without quill shaft or vane.
• Feather - whole or fractured waterfowl feather.
• Other elements - plumage elements such as down fibres, feather fibres, broken feathers, milled feather, residual matter, landfowl feathers, damaged feathers and quill feathers.
• Foreign matter - any material not derived from plumage and not considered a filling material in the blend.

Who uses EN 18225:2026?

EN 18225:2026 is used by manufacturers, suppliers, traders and test laboratories working with feather and down fillings. It is relevant where fillings are placed into manufactured articles and sold through the commercial distribution chain.

In practice, it helps quality teams, buyers and labelling staff decide how to declare:

• the plumage and non-plumage split
• down content
• feather content
• species information for waterfowl and landfowl
• the nature of added non-plumage materials

Which standards are used with EN 18225:2026?

EN 18225:2026 refers to these companion standards in clause 2:

• EN 1885:2018+A1:2025 - provides the base terms and definitions used throughout the document.
• EN 12131 - gives the manual test method for determining the quantitative composition of feather and down.
• prEN 18226:2025 - gives the test methods for determining the quantitative composition of feather and down blended with other materials.

These references matter because EN 18225:2026 uses test results and shared terminology to support the label declaration.

What does the EN 18225:2026 document contain?

EN 18225:2026 contains the scope, the referenced standards, the defined terms, and the labelling rules for blended feather and down fillings. It also includes tables for waterfowl species wording and for blends of landfowl and waterfowl.

Annex A provides informative labelling examples based on indicative laboratory results. Those examples show how measured plumage and non-plumage contents are turned into label wording, which is useful for drafting labels, checking artwork and training staff who prepare product declarations.