Since Tuesday, the European Union has banned a whole series of chemical substances contained in tattoo inks because they are said to be carcinogenic. This concerns some dyes included in inks red, orange and yellow. Tattoo artists are therefore no longer allowed to use them on their clients.
“This is a precautionary principle which, in my opinion, has no real basis, explains Aline Lapotre, the manager of the Lollipop tattoo parlor in Laval. In 20 years that I have been doing this job, I have never had a return from cancer or anything ”.
However, these inks and colors are essential to the practice of his profession. “We use all inks, black as well as colors, explains the tattoo artist. I would say 90% of the tattoos I do are black anyway. But for all the people who want to have color, there is going to be a hesitation, until the manufacturers, the suppliers can get us inks that are 100% usable. ”
For the tattoo artist, this ban is indeed restrictive, but it infantilizes consumers. “People who get tattoos are knowledgeable people. These are the same people who go to a tobacco shop to buy a packet of cigarettes that are big“ Smoking kills, ”for example. At one point, it It is also necessary to give back the capacity to people to say “yes but I am grown up, I am of age, vaccinated, therefore I am going”. “ She now hopes that new inks without these chemicals will soon be on the market.