The European standard EN 420 regulates the standard requirements for protective gloves as follows:

• The gloves themselves should not impose a risk or cause injury.
• The pH of the gloves should be as close as possible to neutral.
• Leather gloves should have a pH value between 3.5 – 9.5.
• The highest permitted value for chromium is 3 mg/kg (chrome VI).
• Details of any substance used in the glove which is known to cause allergies should be specified.
• The gloves should be sized by reference to an agreed common European hand size, for example minimum length.