National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 16055:2026. It supersedes BS EN 16055:2012, which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee TCI/69, Footwear & Leather.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 August 2026.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 22 June 2026.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

European foreword

This document (EN 16055:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 289 “Leather”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2027, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2027.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 16055:2012.

EN 16055:2026 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 16055:2012:

addition of new terms and modifications of existing terms;
update of existing figures and addition of new figures.

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

Introduction

It should be noted that raw hides, bovine hides and calfskins are natural products. As a result, companies trading in these products do not have control over all their properties. All links in the chain should ensure that the best possible quality of the natural product skin is maintained. For this purpose, controls should take place in the respective stages, the results of which are then brought to the attention of the preceding stage, so that they can work on improving the quality there.

This document is intended to avoid disagreements between parties. It is the result of discussions with representatives of agriculture, slaughterhouses, hides and skins processors and tanneries.

prEN 18199:2025 addresses essential requirements of traceability of hides and skins.

1 Scope

This document specifies the following for raw bovine hides and skins intended for use throughout the leather manufacturing supply chain:

Terms and definitions;
Requirements for the presentation of raw hides and skins.

It is applicable to fresh and salted bovine hides and skins.

It outlines the opening cut and trim of hides and skins and the types of defects typically associated with this raw material.

NOTE 1 Opening cut and trim vary from country to country.

It shows which parts of hides and skins can be used for leather production and which factors influence the quality of hides and skins.

Furthermore, it gives recommendations on precautions to be taken for transport, preservation, loading and unloading.

NOTE 2 For commercial agreements between the buyer and the supplier of hides and skins, operators use the INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT No. 6 – HIDES and SKINS as drawn up by the International Council of Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Associations (ICHSLTA) and the International Council of Tanners (ICT) [1].

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Raw bovine hides and skins

4 Requirements for the presentation of raw bovine hides and skins

4.1 General

4.2 Requirements

Bibliography