Bradford textile firms have been warned to look out for a new European Union ruling which could catch them off their guard.

Little publicity has been given to a new directive which will be outlined in the EU Journal next month.

The regulation covers the origin of textiles for declaration of duty.

Manufacturers in the district currently have to make two changes to cloth imported from outside the EU for it to be declared of UK origin.

Dyeing and edge printing are the most commonly-used processes. But under the new ruling, which comes into effect from next January, edge printing will no longer be acceptable.

Bradford has a number of firms which import cloth from countries outside the European Union and will have to start working in a different way to meet the requirements of the new regulations.

Rupert Nevin, a partner at law firm Dibb Lupton Alsop, which has an office in Bradford, has warned the district's textile bosses to be on the lookout for the directive.

He said: "As far as we can tell, there are no plans to publicise this dramatic change in the rules and the industry will not know all the details until October.

"The net effect is that manufacturers in the Bradford area currently adopting the edge printing process will have to conform to the new rules and pay duty at the appropriate level - or risk prosecution."

The firm is currently working closely with colleagues in the firm's Brussels office on ways to help textile firms in the Bradford area.

Textile firms have faced a number of blows over the last few years including the effects of the strong pound and high interest rates.

But the latest signs are that manufacturers and exporters are having an easier time than a year ago with lower interest rates and the fall in sterling's value.

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