The two pigments Green 7 and Blue 15:3 are particularly important, and the REACH regulation established the first EU-wide standards for tattoo inks in early 2022. And as of early 2023, these two pigments are banned. Why? What should you know about your tattoo?
The REACH Regulation and Its Content
The REACH Regulation addresses tattoos and tattoo ink in its annex. The annex took effect in January 2022, following which nearly all tattoo inks used in Europe up to that point were withdrawn from the market. Tattoo studios that use colors that do not comply with REACH face penalties.
The REACH Regulation specifies which ingredients may no longer be present in tattoo inks, sets the limit values that must be adhered to for the various substances, and defines the mandatory information that must appear on tattoo ink labels. An exception was defined: To ensure that colors could continue to be used and that tattoo studios would not close en masse, an extended deadline was granted for the pigments Blue 15:3 and Green 7. Therefore, green and blue tattoo colors were only restricted for the time being, but were not completely banned.
It is perfectly possible to produce tattoo inks that comply with REACH regulations. But until now, this has only happened on a very limited scale; inks used to be cheap and widely available. The merits and drawbacks of the REACH regulation are debatable. The fact is that tattoo ink ingredients classified as problematic cause allergies. Other chemicals that were previously allowed in tattoo ink without regulation can cause genetic mutations and cancer. Since the lymphatic system partially eliminates and breaks down tattoo ink, the ink’s ingredients also place a burden on the lymphatic system and the liver. Therefore, the regulation is not intended to harass, but to protect health and life. It remains to be seen how high the risk associated with each of the ingredients is: the responsible committees merely stated that they “could not rule out” negative effects and an increased risk of cancer.
The chemicals banned in tattoo ink under REACH have been prohibited in hair dyes and other cosmetics since 2009. Therefore, extending the ban to tattoo ink is logical.
Get a tattoo in 3 steps
You’ll receive a personalized tattoo consultation. Contact us via email or Super Chat (icon in the bottom right corner).
Book your appointment.
Your dream tattoo will come true in a relaxed atmosphere.
Color supply issues across the EU
Since there were no colors available on the market for a while, tattoo artists were primarily working in black, white, and gray in early 2022. The problem was not only that many colors simply did not comply with regulations, but also that manufacturers of REACH-compliant inks could not keep up with the production of the quantities suddenly required. The market remained empty until production was adjusted accordingly.
It is perfectly possible to produce tattoo inks that comply with REACH regulations. But so far, this has only happened to a very limited extent; the inks used to be inexpensive and widely available. It is understandable that tattoo artists prefer to work with inks they have known for many years and whose performance and handling they have come to appreciate. And it is also understandable that they would buy the inks as cheaply as possible. These inks have not been legally available for over a year now.
It would also have been problematic with black, gray, and white. However, manufacturers were able to produce sufficient quantities of these tattoo inks as early as 2022. The same was not true for other colors. In some cases, completely new products had to be developed. Even the suppliers to the ink manufacturers faced supply difficulties.
There were also legal challenges, as it was far from clear what documents were required to legally purchase the inks. Sometimes, tattoo artists didn’t even know what information to look for or how to identify legitimate, accredited suppliers. Many European manufacturers simply did not have REACH-compliant inks in their product range.
About two-thirds of the colors affected by the ban
In 2022, many appointments were canceled or postponed because tattoo artists simply couldn’t get their hands on ink. This will happen again in 2023. Pigments Green 7 and Blue 15:3 are not only found in green and blue tattoo inks, but also in numerous mixed colors. As a result, the range of available products continues to shrink. Of course, doing without bright colors in the long term is not an option: tattoos are art, and art needs color.
By the end of 2022, it was already clear that Green 7 and Blue 15:3 pigments would no longer be permitted for use as of January 4, 2023. However, not much happened; despite the experiences of the previous year, manufacturers did not have any alternatives in their product lines. Instead, tattoo studios and tattoo artists were informed that most colors would be phased out of the range starting in 2023.
Inks containing the pigments Green 7 and Blue 15:3, which still met REACH requirements in 2022, will no longer be permitted for use as of January 4, 2023. This is particularly difficult for tattoo artists who stocked up on colored inks last year. Prices for tattoo inks have risen significantly since REACH came into effect, but remaining ink stocks still need to be disposed of.
It is estimated that approximately 66% of the tattoo inks used to date contain the pigments Green 7 and Blue 15:3. Since manufacturers were not required to provide precise information about ink ingredients until January 2022, this is not a definitive figure. Many manufacturers maintain that there is no suitable substitute for these two pigments. For this reason, no new REACH-compliant colors without these two pigments are expected in 2023.
Will tattoos in the future be available only in colors other than green and blue?
In the future, it will also be possible to get tattoos in green and blue again. There are already colors available that do not contain the problematic pigments and fully comply with REACH regulations. One example is the “Viking” line from the manufacturer Dynamic Inks.
However, some manufacturers have made it clear to tattoo ink suppliers that the range of available colors will be significantly smaller in 2023. This applies to the following manufacturers and product lines:
- Quantum Ink
- World Famous Limitless
- Kuro Sumi Imperial
- Permablend
The list is not complete. In addition to the green and blue tattoo colors, the color range mentioned also lacks shades of purple, turquoise, brown, and gray.
If you had planned to create a design featuring plants or the ocean in 2023, this will certainly have a major impact on your plans. If you don’t want to miss out on the design you want, it’s best to wait another year or two until the full color palette is available again.
You can also talk to your tattoo artist about this. Artists are creative—they always find a solution. And you might even end up liking an alternative design of your desired motif that doesn’t include the problematic colors. We hope that’s the case.