The Chaotic Law That Solves Nothing
As the new EU regulations on tattoo ink have come into effect, tattoo artists are uncertain about the future of tattoos. False rumors about the availability and unavailability of certain inks and colours are abundant.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in both the UK, the US and other parts of the world are considering proposals similar to the EU REACH legislation.
Confusion About Legal Inks
New inks are slowly appearing on the market in accordance with the new regulations. But some crucial questions remain. In the early days after the new law came into force, a persistent rumor made the news. It stipulated that the new law meant that only black and grey-scale inks would be legal in the future, and that all coloured inks had been banned.
It was a mere rumor. At the moment there are more black inks which are REACH-compliant than coloured ones, but colours should be available too, and more should be on the way.
Given the looming threat to the tattoo industry posed by the REACH regulations, it is great news that legal inks are becoming available.
The Real Issues Remain Unsolved
It would have been even better news, if not for the fact that the new regulations do nothing to solve the real medical issues that surround tattoos.
Jørgen Serup (MD, DMSc., Professor, Chief Physician at the Department of Dermatology and Head of the Tattoo-clinic, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark), puts the point as follows:
“None of these health-issues that we really see manifested and treat routinely will be prevented by REACH”
Serup argues that the new European regulations were misconceived from the start:
“The declared main purpose of the REACH on inks is to prevent cancer originating in tattoos. As there is to date no medical or epidemiological solid documentation that tattooing people causes cancer, it is of course not possible to reduce cancer occurrence.”
Contacts: reach@tattoodo.com
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Martin Krat - Senior Consultant
martin.krat@mu.st / +45 2940 4089
About Tattoodo
Tattoodo is the world’s largest tattoo community and most downloaded tattoo app, reaching more than 30 million users and artists across platforms. Co-founded by renowned tattoo artist and media personality Ami James and backed by some of the most respected names in the industry, Tattoodo's mission is to help people get tattooed by matching them with the right artist for their idea.
About REACH
REACH is a massive and complex legislation regulating all chemicals in the European Union. It effectively regulates any chemical that is bought, sold, imported, produced, and otherwise used in the EU. Out of this massive regulation, tattoo ink makes up a recent and relatively small part.
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