NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3517
SPONSOR: Burke TITLE OF BILL:
An act directing the department of health to study the long-term safety
of tattoo ink and issue a report making recommendations for tattoo ink
labeling; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
tion thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To study the long-term safety of tattoo ink to ensure consumers are not
unknowingly causing harm to their body.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 details the contents of the report
Section 2 details the timeframe of the report and the report's recipi-
ents Section 3 sets the effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
United States institutions appear to lack the initiative to study the
safety of tattoo ink, despite the widespread prevalence of tattooing.
While the FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of tattoo ink under
its classification as a cosmetic, it has conducted little exploratory
research into the practice. Although this issue is not being prioritized
at the federal level, New York should take action.
Two observed symptoms raise concerns about the safety of tattoo inks:
the blackening of lymph nodes and debilitating allergic reactions. As
tattoo ink is injected directly into the body's largest organ, the skin,
its substances become embedded in the body. The European Union has been
far more proactive in addressing this issue, implementing strategies
such as labeling requirements and regulations. However, the scientific
evidence to determine the necessity or effectiveness of these measures
remains limited. European-led research has largely found no link between
tattoo ink and skin cancer. Still, there has been little investigation
into potential neurodegenerative effects from heavy metal contamination
or the breakdown products of tattoo ink in the body. Until further
research is conducted, we encourage individuals considering tattoos to
be mindful of the ink they choose. Opting for inks free of heavy
metals, such as vegan inks, may be a safer alternative. The website
Tattoo Wizard provides a tool to identify tattoo artists who use vegan
inks: h
TTOS://TATTOOSWIZARD.COM/TAGS/VEGAN.ct.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
02/03/23 referred to health
01/03/24 referred to health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3517
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURKE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT directing the department of health to study the long-term safety
of tattoo ink and issue a report making recommendations for tattoo ink
labeling; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
tion thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The department of health shall conduct a study on the long-
2 term safety of tattoo ink. Such study shall include, but not be limited
3 to:
4 (a) ingredients in various types of tattoo inks and the long-term
5 health risks and potential side effects of exposure to such ingredients;
6 and
7 (b) long-term health risks and potential side effects of tattoos made
8 with various types of tattoo ink.
9 § 2. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the
10 department of health shall deliver a report which shall include any
11 findings and analysis from the study conducted pursuant to section one
12 of this act to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and
13 the speaker of the assembly. Such report shall also include recommenda-
14 tions for the labeling of tattoo inks and recommendations on changes
15 which should be made to any laws, rules or regulations as a result of
16 such study.
17 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
18 deemed repealed two years after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07018-01-5
