On 23 April 2015, the European Commission published regulation (EU) 2015/628 amending Annex XVII to REACH Regulation (EC) No.1907/2006 as regards lead and its compounds on the official Journal. It shall be implemented from 1 June 2016.

According to the regulation, if articles or accessible parts thereof may, during normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, be placed in the mouth by children, the concentration of lead (expressed as metal) in those articles or accessible parts thereof should be less than 0.05 % by weight, This regulation covers various products, such as household goods, furniture, textile, footwear, bags and suitcases, stationery, sports and leisure goods. However, the requirements shall not apply to those products, if 

• it can be demonstrated that the rate of lead release from such an article or any such accessible part of an article, whether coated or uncoated, does not exceed 0.05 μg/cm2 per hour, and, 
• for coated articles, that the coating is sufficient to ensure that this release rate is not exceeded for a period of at least 2 years of normal use of the article.

In addition, this regulation shall not apply to the following products (including, but not limited to): crystal glass, non-synthetic or reconstructed precious and semi-precious stones, certain enamels, keys and locks, musical instruments, some articles and parts of articles comprising brass alloys, the tips of writing instruments, religious articles, packaging and packaging waste，materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, toys, electrical and electronic equipment.

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