Reach compliant Tattoo Inks

REACH-Compliant Tattoo Inks

Not only the past Corona years have been challenging for tattoo studios in Germany. Since January 4, 2022, the new European REACH regulation has come into force. Common tattoo inks are covered by this and are now banned. Almost the entire range of tattoo inks must now be replaced with REACH-compliant inks. Purchasing legal tattoo supplies is currently difficult and expensive.

What does REACH stipulate?

Purchasing tattoo supplies has become more difficult than usual for studios and tattoo artists. Since January of this year, the well-known tattoo inks can no longer be used. This includes sales. The reason for this is the new REACH regulation, which bans the chemical components of the inks across Europe. This restriction applies to substances that are carcinogenic or can cause genetic mutations. Currently, except for some black and white shades, the complete color range is affected.

Since then, purchasing has been difficult for the tattoo wholesale, studios, and tattoo artists. Tattoo supplies are expensive and often sold out. Many color manufacturers started too late with the REACH-compliant conversion of their colors. They have not yet managed to find high-quality alternatives for the now banned color tones and preservatives to ensure a comparable quality of the banned shades. For this reason, appointments for colored tattoos often have to be canceled.

Unscrupulous tattoo artists might use illegal inks

The extensive bans by the REACH regulation are supposed to make tattoo inks safer. However, it is feared that exactly the opposite will be achieved. If there are no blue shades available after the transition period, many unscrupulous tattoo studios might use illegal inks from abroad.

The newly enacted law regulates the uniformity of tattoo materials and is intended to ensure a Europe-wide standard. It limits the use of selected ingredients, including certain pigments and preservatives and binders. Before the regulation came into force, these could be used in manufacturing. Now, they are only allowed in tattoo inks to a limited extent. In the long term, some additives are to be used in very limited quantities. According to the REACH regulation, a maximum of 0.02 percent of these substances may be present in tattoo materials. Due to this low limit, the use of these substances is effectively banned.

There is no alternative for Blue 15

In the coming year (2023), the color tones Blue 15 and Green 7 are to be banned. They are suspected of causing cancer. Currently, these two colors have a transition period. For the chemicals no longer permitted, color manufacturers can find alternatives. No solution has been found for the pigment Blue 15. If no alternative substances are available, up to 65 percent of the entire color spectrum in tattoos could disappear.

Petitions have already been started to preserve tattoo inks. So far, signatures in the five-figure range have been collected to prevent the regulation. The German authorities consider the data situation to be insufficient. The information is not sufficient to demonstrate the health-endangering characteristics of the concerned colors Blue 15 and Green 7, confirms the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Therefore, an assessment of the risk is currently not possible.

Manufacturer update on REACH-compliant tattoo inks

The ban by REACH affects countless pigments, binders, and preservatives. They may neither be sold, stored, nor used. Our tattoo supplies are no exception. Many colors we simply cannot sell anymore. But we are a tattoo supply shop. Our tattoo supply shop now offers REACH-compliant tattoo inks: https://www.murostar.com/Reach-compliant-Tattoo-Inks. We have marked the corresponding colors in our shop according to their REACH compliance.

Some manufacturers have already announced or already have REACH-compliant tattoo inks in their range:

FAQ / How to Buy REACH Compliant Colors

Our tattoo supply shop has added a dedicated color category: There, we exclusively offer tattoo inks that comply with the new regulation. They meet the requirements and are REACH-compliant. All other colors have been removed from the range. They may no longer be sold in Europe.

FAQ:

Which tattoo inks can I use according to the REACH regulation?
We have created a special category in our shop for REACH-compliant inks: https://www.murostar.com/Reach-compliant-Tattoo-Inks. There we will list tattoo inks as they become available that comply with the new REACH regulation. However, the range is currently limited due to high demand. According to manufacturers, more colors will be available in the coming months. They are further increasing capacities and producing only tattoo inks that comply with the new regulation.

Can I continue using colors that do not comply with the new REACH regulation?
No. As of January 4, 2022, these colors no longer comply with the new regulation and therefore must not be used.

Are my previously used colors identical and comply with the REACH regulation?
Certainly, they are good products. However, manufacturers will not produce a completely new range. They will only adjust a small portion of the shades. It may happen that certain colors are no longer available on the European market. They lack conformity.

How can I work while no new colors are available and I cannot use the old ones?
At the moment, the transition to REACH-compliant color tones requires a lot of patience. Unfortunately, there are no alternatives that comply with the new regulation. However, you can find all currently REACH-compliant colors here on this page to buy.