Nickel Free

Nickel Directive 

Our laboratorium for nickel free certificate is:

AC 0524 

Approved by: AAG. 12471. Jaar: 1996.

Ond. Ontw. - CR 124 71: 2002. 

Surgical Steel 316L.

SS316L is a surgical implant grade, which is the most used material for Body Jewelry.

Due to the EU Nickel DIrective introduced in Europe in 2001, steel is only recommended for healed piercings

(releasing less than 0.5ug/cm2/week). 

The Nickel Directive (Only enforced in Europe - Not in effect anywhere else) As a result of various problems associated with nickel sensitisation on clothes and jewellery, the European Community (EC) Nickel Directive (76/769/EEC - now 94/27/EEC) was enacted on 20th July 1999, and became law in the EU on the 20th January 2000. The directive was devised due to fears about allergic reactions and sensitisation to nickel, and has been designed to reduce any problems caused by this metal. On the 20th January 2000 the Nickel Directive became law in the EU There is no ambiguity - any supplier saying this Directive is not law is misguided or ill-informed. It is the law - and, moreover, both the supplier and the piercer share the responsibility of ensuring that this legislation is enforced. 

The directive is a large and complex document, but can be simply put as follows: Items intended to come into contact with BROKEN skin are restricted to a mass of 0.05% nickel. Items intended to come into close and prolonged contact with skin are restricted to a release rate of 0.5ug/cm2week of nickel. 316L SURGICAL STEEL contains between 6-13% nickel and it does not conform to the first part of the Directive and it cannot, therefore, be used for fresh piercings. It can only be used after the healing process (also known as 'epithelization') has taken place, as replacement jewellery, since it does not release nickel. TITANIUM does not contain nickel but can attract it during the manufacturing process. This means that it does conform to the first part of the Directive, but may not conform to the nickel release directive, depending on the standards of the manufacturer... 

EU Nickel Directive 76/769/EEC Part 1 The law states that body piercing assemblies present during epithelisation must be homogenous and contain no more than 500ppm of nickel. Part 2 The law states that body piercing assemblies worn in the body once the wound has healed must release nickel at a rate of no more than 0.5ug/cm2/week.