Manufacturers of apparel are increasingly called upon to verify various aspects of a product. Traditionally apparel suppliers have offered goods that were properly constructed, well sized and had other attributes. Increasingly suppliers must do that, but also be able to monitor many other aspects of the product: its flammability, washability, the conditions in the factory where it was produced etc.
These additional demands place a significant burden on manufacturers, and become a major concern in terms of how products (and piece goods and trim) are sourced and how the information on these materials and processes are managed internally.
The companies able to operate in this environment are those that can bring together this information effectively, and understand that all aspects of the product must be considered as goods are sourced and brought to market. Managing these processes well becomes a competitive strength. Managing the risks associated with various product standards is good business.
In both Canada and the United States any dealer of merchandise is responsible for the product they introduce in the marketplace. That being said, in the United States this is far more explicit, and
You must have a reasonable basis for labelling information. That means you must have reliable evidence to support the care instructions. For example, you cannot say "Dryclean Only" unless you have proof that washing is harmful to the garment. What constitutes reliable evidence depends on several factors.
The same considerations apply to issues of flammability or other product standards.