Suffolk Trading Standards detain more than 1,000 pieces of 'unsafe' jewellery - and products removed from Amazon

Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Surveillance Team have detained three consignments of jewellery that were found to be unsafe due to high concentration of chemicals.

The 1,011 pieces of non-compliant and unsafe jewellery, ranging from DIY bracelets with charms and beads, as well as pendants and rings were detained at the Port of Felixstowe.

The consignments arrived at the port in late October and early November and have since been tested, with the results leading to the products being removed from Amazon, just before Christmas.

The products were tested in accordance with The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations 2020, which prescribe the maximum cadmium, lead and nickel levels due to the risk of poisoning.

Many of the samples were unsafe due to the high concentration of chemical elements, with one sampled bracelet containing 26.3 per cent cadmium: 2630 times the safe limit.

Both the unsafe and non-compliant products lacked traceable information such as the full name and address of the manufacturer and the UK importer, as well a model number or batch code to identify the product.

Trading Standards warn if you have purchased a product that you think may be unsafe, to stop using it immediately and report it to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.