EU Published EN 16128:2025 on Nickel Release from Spectacle Frames and Sunglasses
| Targeted audience | EU/EEA manufacturers, EU/EEA importers and their upstream providers, EU/EEA distributors |
| Products concerned | Spectacle frames, ready-to-wear near-vision spectacles, sunglasses, spectacle frames used for eye and face protection |
| Key industries concerned with this insight | Glasses |
| Application date | 30 April 2026 |
| Main content or requirements | On 22 October 2025, the European Standard EN 16128:2025 on nickel release from spectacle frames and sunglasses is published. In the new standard, the test procedure is revised. The standard will be given the status of a national standard and the conflicting national standards will be withdrawn at the latest by April 2026 |
| Reference | Link 1 Link 2 |
On 22 October 2025, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published a new version of the European Standard EN 16128, EN 16128:2025 Ophthalmic optics - Reference method for the testing of spectacle frames and sunglasses for nickel release, superseding the previous version EN 16128:2015.
The main technical changes are as follows:
- Modified Clause 4 and Figure 1 to give a better scientific explanation of why a sample that fails the coating test might pass the migration test. Stated that the coating test is not a screening test since a pass allows a product to be labelled as compliant with REACH. Reinforced the warning about taking particular attention over handling samples to avoid additional damage.
- Modified Clause 5 to emphasize that if a sample fails the coating test, then all parts of the sample have to be tested with the migration test, not just the part that failed.
- Modified Clause 6 to note that the lenses are needed in the frame to protect the groove during the simulated wear and corrosion procedure. Added new Annex A to provide illustrations of mounts that can be used to hold sample frames in the tumbling barrel.
- Modified Clauses 7 and 8 to refer to the new normative Annex B for advice on where to test sides, which recommend that the test or dummy lenses are kept in the frame for the tests.
- Provided in Clause 7 more detailed advice on where to mask frames before the coating test. Added new Annex D on the new quality control sample.
- Modified Clause 8 to permit the use of a hermetically-sealed cabinet and laboratory oven to be used for the migration process as well as a climate chamber. Doubled the concentration of the control solution and halved the volume to avoid overloading the piece of test paper, which is suggested to be 10% larger.
- Added in Annexes B, C and D photographic figures to illustrate sample preparation.
- Revised Annex E to recommend folding of the sealing film over the test or dummy lenses rather than wrapping around the rim.
The new standard EN 16128:2025 will be given the status of a national standard and the conflicting national standards will be withdrawn at the latest by April 2026. The standard is expected to become a harmonised standard under the EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII Entry 27 after it is accepted by the European Commission and is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
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