● The regulation in question - commonly referred to as REACH - is a regulation concerning the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals, which includes any substances that may have a harmful impact on human health or the environment;
● REACH regulations apply to pigments used in tattooing and permanent makeup, as they are not considered medical or cosmetic products;
● The recent regulation is not surprising - January 4th of this year marks the moment it came into effect after a transitional period, with the changes decided in December 2020;
● The reasons for the introduced regulations can be attributed to the popularization of tattooing and permanent makeup; as a result of both procedures, we introduce ink mixtures containing pigments and auxiliary substances into the body, such as solvents, stabilizers, moisturizers, pH regulators, preservatives, thickeners, softeners, and they remain in the skin for a long time;
● The regulation prohibits the use of the above substances in tattoo pigments at concentrations above which they may pose a health risk (carcinogenic, mutagenic, irritating, etc.);
● The regulation is based on risk assessment, not confirmed by research!
● Therefore, REACH regulations are preventive in nature!
● The imposed restrictions concern the presence of substances such as azo dyes, aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and methanol in tattoo inks, and reducing their concentration aims to minimize the risk of adverse effects in humans;
● REACH regulation applies to all colors - black, gray, and white pigments must also meet the adopted standards;
● It is therefore misleading to claim that colored pigments have been banned!
● The entry into force of the regulation practically means the inability to use in tattooing inks purchased last year or to import products from outside the European Union, as they do not comply with the standards imposed by EU law;
● The transitional period has been extended until January 4, 2023, for Pigment Blue 15:3 and Pigment Green 7, as a safer formula has not yet been developed to replace them;
● Finally, the most important - companies such as World Famous Ink and Eclipse Tattoo have already adjusted the compositions of their inks to comply with the current regulations!
