The ZDHC MRSL V3.1 has been updated in response to queries from stakeholders and after discussion with the MRSL Council. The document has been updated to reflect changes in supplier guidance, formulation limits, and in the note about the testing procedure for specific substances.

The different updates are as follows:

1. O-Phenylphenol (+salts) (CAS No. 90-43-7)

• The supplier guidance for the ‘leather applicability’ of this substance in the category ‘1B. Anti-microbials and biocides’ have been amended to:

"Use is permitted for chemical preservation for transportation and storage of raw hides as well as tanned semi-finished products (wet-white, wet-blue). Chemical preservation of coated or uncoated finished leather shall not be permitted."

• It is also permitted as an 'in-can preservative’ in leather chemical formulations under the BPR PT6 up to the formulation limit of 5000 mg/kg.

2. Chlorophenols

To provide clarity to test laboratories and prevent misleading results, a ‘Note on testing’ is added in the introductory text of ‘1E. Chlorophenol’ category:

"If monochlorophenols or dichlorophenols are identified in a sample prepared for evaluation of chlorophenols using KOH extraction, the results should be confirmed in accordance with Annex C of DIN-50009."

ZDHC MRSL V3.1 is the official ZDHC MRSL now and the ZDHC MRSL V3.0 is no longer valid.

The ZDHC MRSL V3.1 is valid until a new version of ZDHC MRSL is launched by ZDHC. A transition period is always included.

The transition period on the ZDHC Gateway started on 1^st January 2023 and ends on 31^st October 2023. In this transition period, the products can still be verified according to both ZDHC MRSL versions (2.0 and 3.1). After 1^st November 2023 only products according to the new ZDHC MRSL V3.1 and the related ZDHC Conformance Guidance V2.0 can be uploaded.

The following changes have taken place on the ZDHC Gateway:

• The ZDHC Gateway only hosts ZDHC MRSL conformant chemical products with proof of conformance and thus only ZDHC MRSL Level 1,2,3. The “Registered” product status will disappear.

• A new product status “Expired” has been introduced. An “Expired” product is a chemical product with an expired ZDHC MRSL Conformance certificate. A product that is expired will still be visible (published) on the ZDHC Gateway for eight weeks, so the formulator has time to re-certify the chemical product. Once the eight weeks have passed, the chemical product gets unpublished if there is no new ZDHC MRSL Conformance certification.

• Uploading Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all ZDHC MRSL Conformant products is mandatory.

• Products that have been certified against ZDHC MRSL V3.1 can be uploaded and published on the ZDHC Gateway.

• Products that have been certified against ZDHC MRSL V2.0 can be uploaded and published on the ZDHC Gateway until 31^st October 2023.

• If there is a certification for both ZDHC MRSL (2.0 and 3.1), the certification for ZDHC MRSL 3.1 prevails.

• Product visibility of the prevailing certification in the ChemCheck report and in the Performance InCheck Report.

The following changes will take place on the ZDHC Gateway from 1st November 2023 onwards:

• From 1st November 2023 products certified against MRSL V2.0 cannot be uploaded and published on the ZDHC Gateway.

• If by 1st November a product has been only certified against ZDHC MRSL V2.0 and not against ZDHC MRSL V3.1, it will be moved to an “Expired” public product status for eight weeks. If the product is not re-certified against ZDHC MRSL V3.1 within eight weeks the product will be automatically unpublished and not be visible on the ZDHC Gateway, until a new valid ZDHC MRSL V3.1 certification has been uploaded.

• The Performance InCheck Report will still show ZDHC MRSL V2.0 certified products until 31^st May 2024.