Karnataka to soon write to the Centre seeking regulations for tattooing and tattoo studios

Karnataka Health Department seeks regulations for tattoo studios due to health risks from contaminated ink and unhygienic practices.

Karnataka’s Health Department will soon write to the Union Health Ministry seeking regulations specifying procedures for tattooing, including norms for issue of licence to tattoo artists and tattoo studios.

Announcing this at a press conference on Friday (February 28, 2025), State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said currently tattoos are not covered under any rules/regulations. The tattoo ink can be contaminated and its introduction into the skin has been associated with the potential entry of a great number of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, he said.

Mr. Gundu Rao said he has asked the Food Safety Commissioner to write to the Centre in this regard and press for tattoo regulations. “He is working on it and the letter will be sent in a day or two,” the Minister said.

“Tattoo ink sale should be prohibited until the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards and guidelines are framed,” he said.

The Minister said a recent testing analysis of eight tattoo ink samples collected from across the State by officials from Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration, revealed alarming results. The reports revealed that samples of the tattoo inks tested positive for around 22 metals (Selenium, Chromium, Platinum, Arsenic, etc.) and residual solvents.

A senior official said random samples of tattoo inks of eight different colours by different manufacturers and needles were collected informally and subjected to testing. “While there are no guidelines on the permissible limits, the tests revealed the presence of a high level of heavy metals and residual solvents in the products, which are harmful,” the official said.

Pointing out that there is no suitable method to test the sterility of the tattoo ink as the product is coloured, sources said the needles have been taken to test for sterility and the reports are awaited. “One container of tattoo ink is used for many customers, so sterility cannot be maintained. Also, the environment in the tattoo studios is not aseptic,” he said.