Does the EU want to ban green and blue tattoos?

Banning blue and green pigments would mean eliminating around 66 percent of the entire color spectrum

The topic: Does the EU want to ban green and blue tattoos?
An article from oe24 is currently generating a lot of inquiries in our editorial team. We would be happy to clarify the matter. All German tattoo suppliers, manufacturers of tattoo inks, the tattoo associations BVT and DOT, tattoo artists and tattooed people have joined forces and are committed to this cause. There must be a serious background to this, right? Feelfarben.com asked Gordon Lickefett, Tattoosafe - one of Germany's leading shops for tattoo equipment - and board member of the Federal Tattoo Association (BVT).

Ban on pigments for the production of various tattoo colors

To produce various tattoo colors, pigments are primarily used, which are responsible for the color. This makes them an essential part of colorful tattoos. A 2018 study examined 451 colors collected over eight years. These included 396 tattoo colors and 55 colors for permanent make-up. More than a quarter of the colors contained the pigment Blue 15, and 12 percent of the colors contained the pigment Green 7. The two pigments were therefore the most frequently used pigments in the tattoo colors tested and are therefore undoubtedly absolutely necessary.

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The study was carried out in Switzerland, where the pigment Green 7 was already banned as an ingredient in tattoo inks. Nevertheless, it was proven to be contained in 12 percent of the colors. This pigment was not listed in 68 percent of the colors, so the labeling of the products and the labeling of the ingredients is incorrect. But there is no sufficient market control for tattoo inks to counteract this.

Who is behind the ban on pigments?

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently investigating the matter. It is an EU authority that regulates evaluations and then issues recommendations for new approvals or bans of chemicals. This is intended to limit risk and also monitor chemical safety. In this case, she works on behalf of the EU Commission, which is also responsible for deciding whether or not the pigments will be banned.

Tattoo inks are not considered cosmetics

In the planned REACH (European chemicals law) regulation, ingredients in tattoo inks are to be banned, among other things, if they are not permitted in cosmetics. However, you are comparing apples and oranges here. In cosmetics, it is plausible that there are bans on products that are unsuitable for mucous membranes or that cause long-term coloring of the skin. In some cases, bans are justified by product properties that either do not play a role in tattoos or are even desirable. So you would have to create your own regulation for tattoo inks.

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No replacement pigments available

The tattoo industry in Germany sets high standards to protect consumers and tattoo artists. Our own scientific studies are carried out and close contact is maintained with pigment manufacturers. In Germany, the safety of their products is simply a given for retailers in this market.

Gordon Lickefett explains: “What the EU Commission thinks is that there are replacement pigments for these two pigments. But that doesn't exist at the moment. Of the entire color spectrum, around 66% of colors would become inadmissible throughout the EU. No blue, no green and therefore no brown, for example!”

One has to fear that a ban on the pigments in question will lead to further problems. It is unimaginable that tattoo artists will continue to work without blue and green in the future. Too many customer requests or motifs simply would not be possible without these colors. This would mean that tattoo artists who rely on certain colors would almost be forced to purchase colors from abroad that are not subject to any control or regulation and would use them illegally. Gordon Lickefett agrees with this fear:

“For ECHA and the planned REACH regulation, consumer protection is a top priority. In my opinion, this is exactly what is in danger. We manufacturers and dealers in Germany take our responsibility very seriously. We have established complete traceability of the colors we sell. So if there is a recall, we can contact the affected customers specifically. But as soon as tattoo artists use illegal inks that contain harmful ingredients, no one knows what's actually in the skin. So if health problems arise, there is no one to contact and no protection for other consumers.”

There needs to be a separate regulation for tattoo inks!

A petition started to save tattoo inks and counteract a ban on the pigments. The petition runs from January 15, 2020 to February 15, 2020, 50,001 votes are necessary. If these votes are reached, the matter will be discussed directly with the MPs in a public meeting by the Petitions Committee of the German Bundestag.

Gordon Lickefett said: “Our goal is to get the attention of the federal government through this petition. We would like to see further concrete discussions so that Germany ultimately votes no to the REACH regulation. The advantage of the hopefully successful petition is that the issue comes directly to the Bundestag and the federal government has to address our concerns. When it comes to regular signature collections or similar things, the government often has alternative options. In addition, we would of course also like to raise awareness and educate as many people as possible about the topic.”

Source: feelfarben.com
Article image: Shutterstock / By Anna Maltseva