Tattoos pierce EU to the core

2003-07-18 12:47

Brussels - The European Union has warned of the health risks inherent in fashion practices such as tattooing and body piercing, asking member states to ensure stricter controls are put in place.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the EU Commission said two deaths resulting from body-piercing, a practice often carried out by stores which sell the corresponding items of jewellery, had been recorded in EU states since the end of 2002.

"When health standards are disregarded, these practices can bring about viral infections such as hepatitis, HIV, bacterial and fungal infections.

"There are also allergic reactions such as skin irritation and urticaria, malignant lesions such as melanoma, leprosy and other devastating diseases."

Regarding tattooing, the statement issued by research commissioner Philippe Busquin warned that the pigments used by many practitioners were not necessarily safe.

"Except for a limited number of dyes and colorants that have been approved for use in cosmetics, most chemicals used in tattoos are industrial pigments originally produced for other purposes, such as automobile paints or writing inks, and have little or no safety data to support their use in tattoos," it said.

"If people want to tattoo or pierce their bodies, we would like them to do so with proper health and safety guarantees," said the EU.

- AFX