Side-by-side comparison of EU REACH, UK REACH, and US FDA/state-level regulation of tattoo inks, piercing jewellery materials, and studio hygiene standards. Covers pigment restrictions, nickel limits, sterilisation requirements, and what the January 2026 EU amendment changed.
What the full article covers
EU REACH Annex XVII entry 75 is the most comprehensive tattoo ink restriction in force globally, covering approximately 4,000 substances with specific concentration limits
UK REACH is now independent, not a mirror; the December 2025 tattoo ink decision demonstrated divergence, not alignment
The US has no federal tattoo ink regulation and no mandatory body jewellery material standard; regulation is a state-by-state patchwork
Nickel compliance under REACH is a chemical safety floor, not a material quality certification
import liability flows to the importer: a US supplier's compliance does not make their product compliant in the EU or UK
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First published on poliinternational.com. This is a summary of the original engineering article.
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