Restriction of hazardous substances in tattoo inks

15-Mar-2019 - Finland

ECHA’s Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) adopted its final opinion supporting the proposal by Denmark, Italy, Norway and ECHA to restrict the placing on the market of tattoo inks and permanent make-up. Substances within the scope of the restriction include carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances, skin sensitisers or irritants, substances corrosive or damaging to the eye, metals as well as other substances regulated in cosmetic products.

Marcelo Bragion on Pixabay

The proposal includes concentration limits for the substances within its scope. The aim of the restriction is to make inks for tattooing safer and protect people from serious health problems or effects.

SEAC concluded that the proposed restriction is the most appropriate measure to control the risks posed by these substances, and that it is proportionate to the risk because it will bring significant benefits to society (i.e. avoided adverse skin effects and other health impacts), while not imposing significant economic impacts on supply chains. Suppliers of tattoo inks may have to reformulate their inks within 12 months of the restriction entering into effect.

Following SEAC’s adoption of its final opinion, according to the procedure envisaged in the REACH Regulation, the opinions of RAC and SEAC will be forwarded to the European Commission for a draft regulation and possible amendment of Annex XVII to REACH. If the restriction is adopted in its currently proposed format, the requirements for tattoo inks and permament make-up will enter into effect one year after their publication of the measure in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, further changes during the subsequent steps are still possible.

Other news from the department politics & laws

Most read news

More news from our other portals

Last viewed contents

Japan and Singapore Grant CRISPR Patents to Merck

What the Biden-Harris administration means for chemistry - The new administration has inherited a global pandemic and worsening climate change, among other science-related issues

What the Biden-Harris administration means for chemistry - The new administration has inherited a global pandemic and worsening climate change, among other science-related issues

CureVac and GSK Enter into Pandemic Preparedness Contract with German Government - Five-year contract enables production of up to 80 million vaccine doses at short notice in case of a public health emergency

CureVac and GSK Enter into Pandemic Preparedness Contract with German Government - Five-year contract enables production of up to 80 million vaccine doses at short notice in case of a public health emergency

Chemical pollution threatens biodiversity - Scientists say more environmental pollutants should be considered in species protection

Chemical pollution threatens biodiversity - Scientists say more environmental pollutants should be considered in species protection

BioM and Munich Biotech Cluster celebrate its 25th anniversary - A quarter century of success in biotechnology

BioM and Munich Biotech Cluster celebrate its 25th anniversary - A quarter century of success in biotechnology

ECHA’s investigation finds toxic chemicals present in childcare products

ECHA’s investigation finds toxic chemicals present in childcare products

Cancer treatment: Experts propose specific and suited guidelines for the use and regulation of artificial intelligence

Cancer treatment: Experts propose specific and suited guidelines for the use and regulation of artificial intelligence

BIOTECH AUSTRIA calls for better framework conditions for the biotechnology sector of the future - Proposals provide impetus for research, infrastructure and investments in Austria

BIOTECH AUSTRIA calls for better framework conditions for the biotechnology sector of the future - Proposals provide impetus for research, infrastructure and investments in Austria

Evolva and Valent BioSciences to co-develop agricultural bioactives

CONTACT2015: 15th Life Science Job Fair in Heidelberg

Degussa Licenses Genedata's Integrated Bioinformatics Platform to Streamline its Metabolic Engineering Research

Rensselaer Announces $1.59 Million Commitment to Biomolecular Training - NIH Grant Establishes Program to Train Next Generation of Researchers