[Good opportunities to prevent contact eczema through legislation].

Allergic contact dermatitis is often caused by allergenic substances in products. Legislation can be a useful tool in the prevention of contact dermatitis, by limiting skin exposure to contact allergens in chemical products, cosmetics and hygiene products and nickel-containing objects in contact with the skin. A brief review is given of the most important EU Directives, some national regulations and standardisation projects aiming at the prevention of contact dermatitis. It is essential that medical scientific experts support, with their expert knowledge, national and European authorities.