Chinese Jewellery Regulatory Requirements
2026-09-07GB 28480-2012 Limitations of Harmful Elements in Jewellery is China’s first mandatory standard restricting hazardous substances in non-precious metal jewellery (excluding gemstones and jade). It was officially implemented on May 1, 2013. The standard specifies that all types of non-precious metal ornaments and decorations (excluding gemstones and jade) shall comply with corresponding standard requirements. Hazardous substance limits for precious metal jewellery are governed by another mandatory standard GB11887-2012 Specifications for Precious Metal Purity of Jewellery and Designation Methods. These two standards restrict the content of multiple heavy metals in all metal jewellery, with identical controlled items and limit values.
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Jewellery Category |
Controlled Item |
Limit Value |
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Children’s Jewellery |
Lead |
300 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium |
100 mg/kg |
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|
Arsenic, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium |
1000 mg/kg |
|
|
Nickel Release |
Body piercing: 0.2 µg/cm2/week; Direct and prolonged skin contact: 0.5 µg/cm2/week |
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|
8 Soluble Heavy Metals |
Lead: 90 mg/kg. Cadmium: 75 mg/kg Mercury: 60 mg/kg. Chromium: 60 mg/kg Arsenic: 25 mg/kg. Selenium: 500 mg/kg Antimony: 60 mg/kg. Barium: 1000 mg/kg |
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|
Adult Jewellery |
Lead |
1000 mg/kg |
|
Cadmium |
100 mg/kg |
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Arsenic, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium |
1000 mg/kg |
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Nickel Release |
Body piercing: 0.2 µg/cm2/week; Direct and prolonged skin contact: 0.5 µg/cm2/week |
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Note: Jewellery made of other materials shall comply with corresponding national standards where applicable, for example: Textile materials shall meet GB 18401, leather materials shall comply with GB 20400, etc. |
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