Bureau Veritas Gears Up To Test Allergenic Disperse Dyes

Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services UK has developed testing capabilities for allergenic disperse dyes—organic dyes of low water solubility that are suitable for dyeing fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic.

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited laboratory of Buerau Veritas located in Warrington, Cheshire, has identified approximately twenty disperse dyes as having the potential to cause an allergic reaction when in contact with the skin.

These allergenic disperse dyes are not legislatively banned in Europe, however many retailers have already restricted the presence of these dyes in their products in order to protect their clients from potential contact dermatitis, Bureau Veritas said in a statement.

Following the identification of allergenic disperse dyes, Bureau Veritas is now offering textile retailers, brands, vendors and manufacturers a fast testing service for 22 allergenic disperse dyes following the German method DIN 54231.

“As fashion retailers are increasing their focus on restricting potentially harmful chemicals from their products and supply chain, it is essential for our UK laboratory to be able to offer a wide scope of analytical testing services,” comments Jonathon Thackray, Managing Director at Bureau Veritas.

In recent years, apparel retailers and brands have come under increasing scrutiny of several non-government organizations (NGOs) like the Greenpeace on the use of hazardous chemicals.