Tattoo ink between beauty and risk: regulation in Switzerland, the EU and the USA.

The growing popularity of tattoos highlights the importance of careful regulation of tattoo inks to minimise health risks. In Switzerland, tattoo inks are subject to strict legal requirements based on food legislation, which are designed to ensure that they are sterile and harmless. The European Union has significantly tightened restrictions on substances in tattoo inks through Regulation (EU) 2020/2081 in order to increase safety. In contrast, the USA regulate tattoo inks under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but do not have specific pre-market controls for tattoo ink products. This comparison highlights different regulatory approaches in Switzerland, the EU and the USA and underlines the need for more harmonised global regulation to protect consumer health.