More protection with tattoos

On 4 January 2022, the adapted REACH Regulation will enter into force. It newly regulates the use of tattooing products [entry 75 of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006)]. Tattooing products consists of pigments and additives, some of which are suspected of being CMR substances. The amended regulation is intended to make the use of tattoo inks safer for consumers. However, so far there are nor binding assessment criteria for tattooing products according to which the safety assessment must be carried out. Therefore, the BfR (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) has now issued a statement in which it presents minimum requirements and test methods for the substances in question. The minimum requirements are to form a basis for future risk assessment. Test methods for this already exist in part; however, according to the BfR, further methods and data for assessing the health risks would also need to be developed.