Industry welcomes cadmium use ruling

Spectacle makers have managed to avert extra costs after a European body placed no further restrictions on the use of cadmium for metal spectacle frames.

It followed a consultation and review by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which concluded additional regulations for the chemical were not warranted.

The Optical Confederation responded to the consultation in May last year, arguing changes would result in higher costs as all frames would need to be checked for compliance.

Malcom Polley of the Optical Confederation said: 'The ECHA has rightly recognised that the use of metals in spectacle wear differs from jewellery because of the use of nose pads and end pieces which protect the wearer.