Dangerous ingredients: EU bans other tattoo colors
Created: 01/03/2023 17:16
By: Isabelle Jentzsch
The EU is banning more and more tattoo inks because they contain potentially toxic ingredients.
(Iconic image) © Imago Images/Jochen Tack
Colorful tattoos are becoming more and more popular, but the trend could soon come to an abrupt end.
The EU is banning more and more tattoo colors.
Two new ones will be added in 2023.
Munich - Tattoos are an ancient form of body decoration and are still very popular.
In particular, colored and motley tattoos have become increasingly popular in recent decades.
But that could soon be over.
The EU is banning more and more ingredients that are contained in many tattoo colors.
In 2023, two new colors will be added to the banned list.
From January 4, 2023, tattoo artists will have to do without two popular pigments when inking.
The radiant blue "Pigment Blue 15:3" and "Pigment Green 7", a dark green, may no longer be used.
According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the safety of the pigments has not been proven and they are both suspected of being carcinogenic.
Tattoo colors: EU bans pigments
The so-called "REACH regulation" already banned a number of chemicals in tattoo inks throughout the European Union in January 2022.
The "REACH Regulation" is the European Chemicals Regulation for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals and one of the strictest chemical laws in the world.
Many of the substances in the regulation are considered potentially hazardous and under-researched.
According to the EU Commission, it does not intend to ban tattoos in general.
According to ECHA, tattoos and permanent make-up should only be made safer.
If you want to get a tattoo and do not want to use the banned pigments, you should have the studio or tattoo artist confirm that the color complies with EU Regulation 2020/2081.
Video: Since January 2022, the REACH regulation has banned many tattoo colors
Toxic pigments: Over 4000 substances banned in tattoo inks
The regulation, which came into force in early 2022, led to a ban on more than 4000 substances in tattoo inks.
There are now approved successors for many of the banned colors.
But the newly added pigments "Blue 15:3" and "Green 7" are contained in two thirds of all tattoo colors and there are still no alternatives for these pigments.
If allergic reactions occur after the piercing, a doctor can make a diagnosis more easily if he knows the ingredients of the tattoo colors used.
Consumer advocates therefore advise photographing and keeping the labels of the colors used.
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