Product safety reportOPSS
Gold and silver-coloured earrings safety warning over harmful chemicals
Product Safety Report for gold and silver-coloured earrings sold by Gecko Gifts Limited presenting a serious chemical risk.
What to do now
Tests have found a harmful substance in Gold and silver-coloured earrings above the legal limit.
- Take it away from children now and stop using it.
- Wash your hands after handling it.
- This is a safety report rather than a manufacturer recall: the listing has been taken down, but the seller may not contact you. Get in touch with the seller through the marketplace.
- Report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service if the seller does not respond.
Why it matters. Limits on substances such as lead, cadmium, phthalates and formaldehyde exist because of their effects on health over time. Children are more exposed because they chew and handle products.
If someone has been hurt
Look out for
- skin redness, itching or a rash where it touched
Get help urgently
- if a child has chewed or swallowed part of it and is unwell, contact NHS 111 or your GP
This is general information based on NHS public guidance, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice use NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) or, in Northern Ireland, your GP or out-of-hours service.
Getting your money back
Contact the seller through your order history and say that the product is the subject of an OPSS safety report. Keep screenshots of the listing and your order.
If the seller does not respond, the marketplace’s own dispute process or your card provider is the next step.
From the official notice
Published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (2502-0096). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Product Safety Report for gold and silver-coloured earrings sold by Gecko Gifts Limited presenting a serious chemical risk.
The risk
The products present a serious chemical risk as they were found to contain excess concentrations of lead and nickel.
Exposure to lead may cause a wide range of adverse effects, including damage to the kidneys, the circulatory system, and the developing brain. Unborn and young children are the most sensitive to lead. Nickel is a strong sensitiser and can cause allergic reactions if present in articles that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.
Further information regarding lead can be found on Gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lead-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology
Further information regarding nickel can be found on Gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nickel-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology
The products do not meet the requirements of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Enforcement Regulations 2008.
Action taken
The import has been rejected at the border.
Advice to consumers
The import has been rejected at the border.
Additional information
PSD case number: 2502-0096, 2502-0097, 2502-0098, 2502-0099, 2502-0105
Notified by: Local Authority Trading Standards
Product description
Various silver and gold-coloured earrings. Please access the below PDF for product images.
Open the OPSS notice
Questions
Why has Gold and silver-coloured earrings been reported?
Tests have found a harmful substance in Gold and silver-coloured earrings above the legal limit. Limits on substances such as lead, cadmium, phthalates and formaldehyde exist because of their effects on health over time. Children are more exposed because they chew and handle products.
How do I know if my product is affected?
The notice describes the affected product rather than listing codes. Compare the product name, pack size and where you bought it with the official notice.
What should I do now?
Take it away from children now and stop using it. Wash your hands after handling it.
Can I get a refund or a repair?
Contact the seller through your order history and say that the product is the subject of an OPSS safety report. Keep screenshots of the listing and your order. If the seller does not respond, the marketplace’s own dispute process or your card provider is the next step.
