CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has significantly strengthened its advocacy efforts within the European Union to support the growth and competitiveness of the European textile machinery sector. By registering in the EU Transparency Register, CEMATEX now has greater influence in legislative processes and policymaking discussions.
The organization has joined key EU platforms, including the Sustainable Textiles Transition Pathway and the EU Textiles Ecosystem. These initiatives allow CEMATEX to engage in shaping regulations that will impact the textile industry, such as the Eco-Design Regulation for textiles, the Waste Framework Directive, and new environmental footprint standards for apparel. It is also closely monitoring reforms to EU customs and market surveillance systems.
CEMATEX is actively pushing back against India’s proposed mandatory certification scheme for imported textile machinery. The association submitted a formal position paper to India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries and is advocating for the postponement or revision of the policy. At the European level, CEMATEX is working with industry partners to oppose similar certification rules for CE-marked machinery, which it argues could act as technical barriers to trade.
To combat non-compliant machinery imports, CEMATEX has developed a strategy to support EU market surveillance authorities. It has distributed guidance documents and is preparing visual tools to help customs officials identify violations. Additionally, a newly formed Machine Safety Committee will collect data on repeated non-compliance cases.
These actions reflect CEMATEX’s commitment to ensuring a competitive, sustainable, and regulation-ready future for the European textile machinery industry.
