EU – Amendment to Nickel Release Standard Published – EN 1811:2011 + A1:2015

Vol. 851 | 25 Aug 2015

An amendment to EN 1811:2011 has been published to clarify the compliance/non-compliance criteria for release of nickel from jewellery and other metal components that may be in direct and prolonged contact with the skin. The new criteria will make it easier to assess products for compliance with the REACH Annex XVII requirements for nickel release.

The standard EN 1811:2011 introduced a ‘measurement of uncertainty’ into the test procedure for metal items in contact with the skin. It specified three categories of results; “compliant, non compliant and no decision.” The ‘no decision’ for results which were situated around the 0.5 µg/cm2/week compliance requirement of the Directive created a level of ambiguity for results in this ‘no decision’ range. A similar problem was faced for post assemblies around the 0.28 µg/cm2/week.

The new amendment simplifies the requirement for compliance by removing the ‘no decision” category and to provide a ‘PASS’ compliance level of 0.88µg/cm2/week for articles intended to come into prolonged and direct contact with the skin, and 0.35µg/cm2/week for post assemblies.

The table below summarises the change resulting from this amendment to the standard.

	Post assemblies and body piercings			Other components in direct and prolonged contact with the skin
Result (µg/cm2/wk)	Under 0.11	0.11 to 0.35	Over 0.35	Under 0.28	0.28 to 0.88	Over 0.88
Old Criteria	Pass	No Decision	Fail	Pass	No Decision	Fail
New Criteria	Pass		Fail	Pass		Fail

The new amended standard, EN 1811:2011 + A1:2015, provides a much simpler reporting process of results for suppliers, manufacturers and retailers testing to the nickel release standard. Laboratories will be able to provide results which will be reported as either ‘compliant’ or ‘non compliant’ or ‘PASS’ and ‘FAIL’.

 

For more information, please contact:

Mike Redshaw
Email: mike.redshaw@intertek.com
Tel: +44 (0)1942 265700