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Ban on azo dyes used in anodizing

The company I consulting to manufactures heatsinks and related products for the electronics industry. Our customers who sell electrical and electronic products must comply with a European Union directive that bans 4 heavy metals and 2 types of fire retardant. Many customers are also adding azo dyes to their list of prohibited substances. We do extensive anodizing and our dye supplier tells us that that essentially all anodizing dyes are of the azo type. I understand the original European legislation banning azo dyes was driven by concerns about their use in textiles, where it was possible for the dyes to transfer through the skin of the wearer. My personal take is that the likelihood of significant transfer to people from anodized aluminum is low to non-existent. Anyone know of possible exemption for azo dye use in the anodizing process? Or any insight as to what's driving this (California Prop. 65?) I'dppreciate any and all comments.

Thanks,

Vern Rieck
electronic/electrical cooling solutions - Concord, NH, USA
2004

The main legislation that is driving this is 2002/61/EC of July 2002, but there are a lot of other ordinances in other EU member states that cover azo dyes.

Alyssa L
- Rochester, New York, USA
July 8, 2011