After the (European) Directive 76/769/EEC of 1976 was considered, the houses of Parliament passed The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Nickel) (Safety) Regulations 2000. From 20 July 2001, this became LAW and fully enforceable against manufacturers and RETAILERS, It says:-

…..no person shall supply any post assembly intended to be inserted into a pierced ear or other pierced part of the human body ……. (whether or not it is a post assembly which is intended subsequently to be removed) if that post assembly contains nickel or a nickel compound, unless the post assembly is homogeneous and the concentration of nickel which it contains is less than 0.05%…….

Enforcement
The Local Authorities Trading Standards Departments will enforce these regulations, when they are in doubt, they have access to the Local Authorities Co-Coordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACOTS). The intended legislation provides for traders in breach to be prosecuted at the discretion of the Local Authorities and for fines of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment of 3 months.

Nickel Free?
Because of the new law, certain manufacturers and distributors have decided to introduce "nickel free" jewelry, some of which is not completely free of nickel and could violate the trades description law.

In 1994 LACOTS issued guidelines for the use of the term nickel free to describe jewelry. They concluded that use of the term "nickel free" should be limited to items and component parts where nickel is present at a concentration of 0.01% or less - significantly lower than the 0.05% that current law permits.

This is a guideline and only when a court case has been completed will they know whether this guideline meets the legal requirements of the Trade Description Act.

The Worlds Only 0% Nickel System
Only the Blomdahl® Medical Plastic System is 100% Nickel free and the Titanium range has less than 0.01% nickel. 

Makes professional ear piercing safer and easier!

Further Information
Local Authorities Coordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards
www.lacots.com

The UK Trading Standards service
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Local Government Association
www.lga.gov.uk

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
www.cieh.org.uk

Welsh Local Government Association
www.wlga.gov.uk

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
www.cosla.gov.uk

The Consumer Gateway
www.consumer.gov.uk