Associations: Second-hand clothing imports presumed to be safe

While we entirely understand that governments want to protect their workers such as dockworkers, haulage company workers handling containers or workers who deal with the further processing of used textiles, it is unlikely that those workers can get infected by handling these materials and goods in trade due to the low environmental stability of COVID-19 and the average journey time of sea freight from Europe to end markets in Africa or Asia.

The existing knowledge about the current pathways through which the coronavirus COVID-19 is transmitted is based on knowledge of other closely related coronaviruses (SARS and MERS). The transmission routes of these viruses are well known. The most important route of transmission is when the coronaviruses of infected people or animals are released into the air via droplets through coughing or sneezing and then inhaled. Transmission can also occur when a person touches surfaces where there are droplets and then touches their face, particularly their nose or eyes. Hence the advice to wash hands regularly with soap and water and not to touch one’s face.

In the case of used clothing the average journey time it takes for a shipment to travel as sea freight to its end market in Africa or Asia is typically much longer than the virus can survive outside the body even on hard surfaces. Based on the evidence that is currently available it is very unlikely that exported used clothing could transmit COVID-19. Nevertheless, as an added precaution we recommend that everybody who purchases used clothing washes the garment with soap and water before wearing it for the first time. Safety measures for workers such as social distancing applicable in the country of destination shall also be observed to limit the risk of contamination between workers.