Tattoo and permanent make-up inks

• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — REACH, entry 75 of Annex XVII
• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 — CLP

Who has to appoint one

Manufacturers and sellers outside the Union placing tattoo or permanent make-up inks on the EU market.

Thresholds and exemptions

None. The REACH restriction applies to any quantity placed on the market.

What must appear on the label

'Mixture for use in tattoos or permanent make-up', the reference number of the mixture, the full list of ingredients, batch number, and the supplier's EU contact details.

Marketplace fields

Marketplaces suppress inks that do not show the mandatory statement and ingredient list.

Documentation you must hold

Compositional analysis against the concentration limits of entry 75, safety data sheet, and poison centre notification with a UFI.

Standards and testing

Analytical testing for restricted substances including specific pigments, aromatic amines and heavy metals.

Language requirements

The mandatory statements and ingredient list in the language of each member state of sale.

When it applies

The restriction has applied since 4 January 2022.

How long records are kept

10 years.

What happens if you do not comply

Withdrawal and fines. Several member states run coordinated sweeps of this category.

Who enforces it

National chemicals and consumer product authorities.

Where the boundary lies

Pigments Blue 15:3 and Green 7 remain among the most contested substances in this restriction, and product claims that an ink is 'EU compliant' need analytical evidence behind them.

Questions we are asked

Is a supplier declaration enough?

No. You need analysis against the limits, because enforcement tests the ink itself.