The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (KFDSA) is considering seeking a temporary ban on tattoo inks after a recent raid uncovered the presence of 22 heavy metals, including selenium, chromium, and arsenic. With no Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms regulating tattoo inks, these products remain largely unmonitored and potentially hazardous, the department warned.
State Food Safety Commissioner Srinivas K announced plans to write to the Drugs Controller of India, urging the establishment of safety standards for tattoo inks and advocating for a ban until such regulations are in place. “Pigments and heavy metals in these inks may travel to vital organs like the liver, lungs, and kidneys,” he cautioned.
Sterility remains another pressing issue, as there is no standardized method to test tattoo ink sterility. Officials found that a single container of ink is often used for multiple customers, raising concerns about contamination.
The sterility test reports on tattoo needles are still awaited.
According to reports, the draft letter to the Union also highlights the risks of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in tattoo parlours. "Several outbreaks, especially due to Mycobacterium chelonae were traced back to tap water, as sterile water wasn't used," Srinivas added.
Acknowledging the lack of regulatory oversight on tattoo inks, State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “There is no law to regulate the quantity of ink, metals, and the protocol for its use. The food and drug commissioner will now write to the Drugs Controller of India to bring tattoo inks under BIS standards and establish legal regulations.”