As of January 1, 2014, French tattoo artists may no longer be able to use colored ink to make their tattoos. A decree of March 6, 2013 published in the Official Journal suggests a ban which would concern a total of 59 dyes. Mobilized like never before, the national union of tattoo artists (SNAT) asked the state to reconsider its decision before December 31. A hearing to this effect is underway at the National Assembly this Wednesday, November 27.
The cause of this possible ban lies in pigments present in some inks, deemed dangerous for health according to the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM). A report from the National Union of Dermatologists and Venereologists (SNDV) behind the ANSM’s concern emphasizes toxicity Certain metals contained in these inks including for example aluminum, copper, mercury and iron.
According to SNDV, these substances can be carcinogenic and cause allergies or certain skin diseases like psoriasis or sarcoidosis. The ANSM declares to the France Press Agency (AFP) that it does not have “sufficient data at this stage to ensure their innocuity”.
For its part, the tattooists union estimates that nine out of ten color inks used are affected by this ban “while it is a precautionary principle and no problem. No particular has been found on tattooed people, “deplores Grenouille, SNAR secretary to AFP. The union is therefore currently hearing by the socialist deputy of Isère Olivier VÃ © ran “as part of a legislative project aimed at transposing European legislation to French legislation “, concludes the Agency.
