Prohibition of Supply of Products Containing Nicke

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Nickel-containing alloy or products with nickel-containing surface coating materials are strictly prohibited in Europe under the Directive 94/27/EC if they are in direct and prolonged contact with the human skin, and release nickel in excess of 0.5 week.


Manufacture and import of products not conforming to the Directive shall be banned from 20 July 2000 while ban on sale shall take effect from 20 July 2001. However for products which have been placed on the market before the effective date may continue to be sold.


Legislations now exist in Germany, Denmark and the UK which ban the sales of certain nickel-containing objects because they are likely to cause serious skin irritation.


The German Utensils Regulation on the Release of Nickel

The Danish Ministry of the Environmental Protection Order No. 472 on the Release of Nickel

The UK Dangerous Substances and Preparations（Nickel）(Safety)Regulations 2000


The regulations applies to articles which will by normal use come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin such as


a.       earrings

b.       necklaces, bracelets, chains, anklets and finger rings,

c.       wrist-watch cases, watch straps and tighteners

d.       buttons, zippers, rivets and metal marks, contained in or intended to be used in garments


The Directive also requires that the concentration of nickel should be less than 0.05% by mass and are homogeneous for post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other parts of the body during epithelization of the wound caused by piercing, whether they are subsequently removed or not.


Failure to comply with these regulations will result in substantial fines or even imprisonment. In order to minimize the risk of financial loss and ruin of company image, product testing through a competent laboratory is an essential step.

来源：STC 李昊鹏