and became law in the European Union on the 20th January 2000.
Nickel has been shown to be the most common cause of skin contact allergy in Europe. European Directive 94/27/EC was made UK Law in 2000 and specifies the upper limit for nickel release in articles which have direct and prolonged contact with the skin - such as Jewellery, fashion accessories, and metal adornments for fashion.
The ‘Nickel Directive’ 94/27/EC does not ban the use of nickel per se. For the majority of items it only restricts the release of nickel ions from the item.
Alloys that contain nickel that don't corrode, i.e. some stainless steels, don't release nickel ions and so may be used.
In products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin such as:
earrings, necklaces, bracelets and chains, anklets, finger rings, wrist-watch cases, watch straps and tighteners, rivet buttons, tighteners, rivets, zippers and metal marks,
when these are used in garments,
if the rate of nickel release from the parts of these products coming into direct and prolonged contact with the skin is greater than 0.05 microgrammes per square centimetre per week, the part is prohibited.
