REACH Testing: Is Your Jewellery Business Compliant?

For jewellery manufacturers, importers and retailers, understanding the materials in your products is essential to meeting regulatory requirements and protecting your business.

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It is a regulatory framework designed to protect human health and the environment from risks associated with chemicals.

In Great Britain, UK REACH places restrictions on certain substances found in jewellery, including nickel, lead and cadmium. With products often containing materials and components from multiple suppliers, businesses need to understand what is in their jewellery to help ensure compliance.

What should your business be testing for?

UK REACH places restrictions on certain substances used in jewellery, including:

Nickel: Testing measures nickel release from relevant components that come into contact with the skin, helping assess compliance with restrictions designed to reduce allergic reactions.

Lead and cadmium: Testing identifies concentrations of these restricted substances in relevant materials and components.

Requirements and exemptions vary depending on the product, its construction and intended use.

Why is testing important for your business?

A compliant chain doesn't automatically mean a compliant necklace. Clasps, pendants, coatings and solders can introduce additional compliance risks.

UK product safety reports continue to identify jewellery containing excessive levels of restricted substances, demonstrating why businesses should not rely solely on supplier assurances.

Appropriate testing can help your business identify potential issues, support due diligence and reduce the risk of costly product recalls.

How can Sheffield Assay Office help?

Our Analytical Services laboratory supports jewellery manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers with specialist testing to help assess compliance with relevant REACH restrictions.

Whether you're launching a new collection, sourcing from a new supplier or reviewing your existing product range, we can help you identify appropriate testing requirements.

Protect your products, your customers and your business.

Visit our Jewellery Testing page or contact analytical@assayoffice.co.uk to discuss your testing needs.

The Sheffield Assay Office was established in 1773, under an Act of Parliament and today the company assays and hallmarks the precious metals - silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Sheffield Assay Office is one of only four UK assay offices who all work to uphold the Hallmarking Act of 1973 and continue to ensure consumer protection for customers purchasing precious metals.

To find out more about the whole range of services offered by Sheffield Assay Office, such as our hallmarking and analytical services, please email us at info@assayoffice.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website at http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/contact-us ,

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