When you buy or use jewelry findings, one of the most important questions is safety.
Are the materials you're buying safe, and do they meet EU requirements?

When talking about the safety of jewelry findings, the REACH Regulation comes into the picture. Let me explain what REACH means and why it matters to you as a customer and jewelry maker.

What Is the REACH Regulation?

REACH is the European Union's chemicals regulation, designed to protect human health and the environment. It regulates which chemical substances products may contain and in what amounts.

The REACH Regulation came into force on June 1, 2007. The name stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.

REACH applies broadly to many kinds of products, including jewelry and jewelry findings. It protects users, guides material choices, and creates a common set of rules for the EU market.

How Strict Is REACH?

REACH significantly tightened the regulation of various chemicals and substances. It's often described as one of the strictest chemical regulations in the world.

One key change from the old system is that, under REACH, a company must demonstrate that its products are safe. (Previously, it was enough that a product simply hadn't been specifically found harmful.)

The core idea behind REACH is the so-called precautionary principle. This means that if there isn't enough evidence about a substance's safety, its use can be restricted or its sale banned entirely, even without full certainty about its harmfulness.

One practical example of how REACH affects us here is the E6000 Plus jewelry glue we sell. This glue meets current EU requirements, but it isn't entirely the same as its predecessor, the old E6000. Many people miss the old glue, and we're occasionally asked whether that older type is still available.

The old E6000 was admittedly an extremely strong jewelry glue, but unfortunately we can't sell it anymore, since it doesn't meet current requirements. A safer Plus version was created for the EU market (pictured), and that's the one we can sell.

So REACH is genuinely strict, and it has a big impact on what kinds of products can be sold in the EU. And that's a good thing, since it's our health and safety at stake.

Why Does REACH Apply to Jewelry Findings?

Jewelry findings are often in direct and constant contact with skin. That's why the safety of the materials used in them matters so much.

For jewelry findings, REACH matters because it:

• limits nickel release in skin contact

• bans or restricts harmful heavy metals (lead, cadmium)

• requires companies to ensure their products are safe in normal use

The goal of these restrictions is to reduce allergy risks and long-term health effects, protecting both jewelry wearers and the jewelry makers who work with these findings.

What Does REACH Mean in Practice for Customers?

For customers, REACH is above all about safety and reliability. When jewelry findings meet REACH requirements, they comply with EU chemical legislation and are suitable for safe use in their normal intended purpose.

In practice, this means:

• the use and permitted levels of harmful substances such as nickel, lead, and cadmium are restricted
  
• products have been assessed specifically with prolonged skin contact in mind
  
• official EU safety requirements are met

So REACH isn't just a marketing promise. It's a legally based minimum requirement that provides safety for jewelry wearers, makers, and sellers alike.

When products are tested and meet REACH requirements, that reflects responsible and safe practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About the REACH Regulation

Is REACH mandatory for jewelry findings?

Yes. The REACH Regulation applies to all products sold in the EU, including jewelry and jewelry findings.

Does REACH mean a product is completely allergy-free?

Not necessarily. REACH limits the amounts of harmful substances, but it can't guarantee complete allergy freedom for every user.

Steel grades 304, 316, and 316L stay below the REACH limits, but in some individual cases, stainless steel can still cause allergic symptoms. If someone is especially sensitive to nickel, I'd recommend trying jewelry findings made from 316L steel or titanium. These materials are usually suitable even for the most sensitive wearers.

Does REACH also apply to handmade jewelry?

Yes. Whoever sells the jewelry is responsible for making sure the products placed on the market meet REACH requirements, including handmade jewelry. So if you make jewelry and sell it, your products should comply with REACH.

The easiest way to comply is to source your jewelry findings and other materials from EU-based sellers who follow the REACH Regulation.

How Does Steely Pop Ensure REACH Compliance?

For us, the REACH Regulation is a natural part of responsible business, and we're glad to meet its requirements.

Our company has quality control and testing practices in place to ensure that the jewelry findings we sell meet EU safety requirements. Our quality control is based on regular sampling and outside laboratory tests that we commission every year.

Through laboratory testing, we make sure that:

• our products meet the requirements of the EU's REACH Regulation

• the levels and release of restricted substances such as nickel, lead, and cadmium stay below the permitted limits

• the jewelry findings we sell are suitable for safe use in their normal intended purpose

Test results are an important part of our quality assurance and help us offer our customers safe, reliable jewelry findings.

When you use Steely Pop's jewelry findings, you can trust that they meet the EU's product safety requirements.

Best regards, Tuomas