In recent weeks, you have have the seen the image above shared on Instagram or tattoo artists urging you to sign a petition.
Why is this petition they mention so important? The EU wants to ban green and blue pigments which will have a huge impact on the tattoo industry.
As we’re not tattooers, we’ll let them explain what these bans mean for the tattoo industry and you as clients.
From Intenze Tattoo Ink’s website:
Petition No 1072/2020 by Erich Mähnert (Austrian) on maintaining different pigments in Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH)
Petition Summary The petitioner states that an EU-wide ban on Pigment Blue 15:3 and Pigment Green 7 would have a lengthy negative impact on the economic competitiveness of European tattooists and pigmenters vis-a-vis providers of those services outside the EU and would jeopardise the existence of that sector. Consumers could turn to providers abroad or switch to cowboy operators. Austria is named as an example. In Austria, the provision of tattooing / pigmenting services is governed by some of the strongest regulations in Europe. It is also standard practice to use products wrongly declared to be artists’ paint. This results in a situation whereby the statutory minimum requirements concerning sterility and compliance with threshold values with regard to organic and inorganic impurities no longer need to be monitored, as liability passes from the manufacturer to the tattooist/pigmenter.
The video file is too large to upload here, but we implore you to also watch this video message from tattoo artist and Intenze Tattoo Ink owner, Mario Barth.
If you’re a more visual person, the ban on green and blue inks would mean ink selection for tattoo artists would go from this…
to this…
As ridiculous as this ban is, it’s going to have a serious impact on your favourite tattoo artists and the industry as a whole. At a time where tattoo artists’ livelihoods have already been destroyed by the pandemic and lock downs, this is the last thing they need.
First it’s the EU and soon this could become an issue in North America and elsewhere in the world.
If you love colourful tattoos and don’t wish to see the tattoo industry destroyed by this ban. please sign the petition.
They don’t make it as simple as signing your name and email address – you’ll need to take 10-15 minutes out of your day to make your voice heard.
Register – Click here to create a profile which then will gain you access to the petition.
NOTE 1: For those outside the EU, you will need to scroll down past the EU countries to find your country of residence.
NOTE 2: United States residents, select American as your nationality in the drop down list
Sign the Petition – you may need to search for 1072/2020 on the website.
Share – the more signatures we can get, the better!
The petition closes March 23 at 17:15 Central European time – please sign ASAP!
Follow @savethepigments for more updates
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