Many exporters and producers of garments, jewellery, watches and other fashion accessories will know the EU Directive 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994, relating to the use of dangerous substances.

This legislation prohibits the manufacture or importation of products containing nickel that come into repeated and prolonged contact with skin. This will affect products such as zips, rivets and rivet buttons used in garments as well as wristwatches and fashion jewellery, particularly items used for body piercing, with nickel content such as earrings.

The aim of the legislation is to protect consumers from the negative impact of nickel on health, e.g. skin irritation caused by allergy. Such legislation, prohibiting the use of nickel products that come into close contact with the skin is, of course, not new in the EU.

For exports to European countries it will be necessary to show that the nickel release does not exceed the limits outlined in the Directive, i.e. 0.5 µg/cm²/week over a period of at least two years in normal use. Any products releasing nickel at levels above 0.5 µg/cm²/week will be prohibited. Various tests to check for nickel release are available. Such tests vary in cost and in their application and range from simple "rubbing tests" (CR 12471) to sophisticated laboratory tests (EN 1811). Test methods will be varied, depending on whether or not nickel-containing products are covered by any other materials. If test items are covered by a protective layer, the wear and corrosion effect of the protective layer needs to be simulated (EN 12472) prior to establishing the item's nickel-releasing properties.

For body piercing items like earrings, the limit of nickel release must be less than 0.2µg/cm²/week.