EU Introduces New Test Standard for ‘Accelerated Wear and Corrosion for Nickel Release from Coated Items’

The European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) has published a new method for simulating wear and corrosion for the
detection of nickel release from coated items.

Published in September 2020, EN 12472:2020
‘Method for the simulation of accelerated wear and corrosion for the detection
of nickel release from coated items’, should be used prior to detecting nickel
release from coated articles that come into direct and prolonged contact with
human skin.

The new
version introduces several important changes to the previous iteration (EN
12472:2005+A1:2009). These include:

Clarification on the
standard’s scope – it does not apply to articles with a nickel-containing outer
coating and those which are inserted into pierced ears and other parts of the
human body

Requires granules to be
composed of coconut outer shells that are ground and sieved to give a mixture
of particles with dimensions of 0.8 – 1.3 mm

Strengthens DL-lactic acid purity to be greater than
88% for the preparation of the corrosive medium

Addition of references to
the latest versions of the following standards for nickel release:

  • EN 1811
    ‘Reference test method for release from nickel from all post assemblies which
    are inserted into pierced parts of the human body and articles intended to come
    into direct and prolonged contact with the skin’
  • EN 16128
    ‘Ophthalmic optics – Reference method for the testing of spectacle frames and
    sunglasses for nickel release’

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States that CR 12471 can
be used as a method for obtaining indicative information on the extend of
nickel release or the presence of nickel

Member States are required to give EN
12472:2020 the status of a national standard, with conflicting standards being withdrawn,
by March 2021.

It is expected EN 12472:2020 will be harmonized under Regulation (EC) 1907/2006
‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)’
upon official acceptance by the European Commission (EC) and by publication in
the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

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Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

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