Tattoo Ink Ingredient Decoder: user guide

What it is for

The Tattoo Ink Ingredient Decoder checks tattoo and permanent make-up formulations against European chemical safety regulations under Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/2081 (REACH Annex XVII Entry 75).

The software parses substances from bottle labels and Safety Data Sheet Section 3 tables, matching them against an offline database to flag prohibited colorants, restricted substances, and unrecognised ingredients. It also compares ink requirements across the European Union, United States, Australia, and Southeast Asia, provides compliant alternatives, monitors shelf life, logs client procedure lots, audits batch safety recalls, evaluates Certificate of Analysis heavy metals, tracks custom washes and dilutions, and formats manufacturer inquiry sheets.

Who it is for

This application is built for tattoo artists, permanent make-up practitioners, and studio owners operating in the European Economic Area or purchasing inks subject to European chemical regulations. It also serves guest artists auditing travel sets and studio buyers verifying supplier documentation.

How to use it

Decoding bottle labels and safety data sheets

1. Click Label & SDS Decoder and paste text into Paste ingredient declaration, SDS Section 3 text, or bottle transcription:.
2. Click Decode Ingredients to inspect summary counts for Prohibited, Restricted, Not Covered, and Unrecognised, then click Save This Formulation.

Comparing EU, US, Australian, and Southeast Asian requirements

1. Click Global Regulations to open the Multi-Jurisdiction Regulatory Matrix.
2. Click Regulatory Matrix, filter results with Filter by Jurisdiction or search by substance, and open any row to see the Studio Action required in the European Union, United States, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
3. Click Divergence Explainer for a plain-language comparison of product classification, chemical thresholds, pigment approvals, heavy metal standards, manufacturer obligations, record-keeping, and permanent make-up rules across all four jurisdictions.

Scanning bottle barcodes and QR codes

1. When adding a bottle in Shelf & PAO Expiry, click Scan Barcode / QR to launch the Barcode & Bottle QR Scanner.
2. Align the bottle barcode or traceability QR code within the viewfinder following Align ink barcode or QR code within viewfinder. The scanner extracts the lot number or product identifier automatically.
3. If camera hardware is inaccessible, enter the code into Manual Code Entry: and click Apply Code to populate your bottle entry form.

Browsing the substance registry

1. Click Substance Registry and search via Search by pigment name, Colour Index (e.g. CI 74160), CAS number, or synonym....
2. Filter entries using Filter by Regulatory Status or pills like All ({count}) and Compliant ({count}), then click Add to Studio Inventory.

Cross-referencing pigment alternatives

1. Click Alternative Matrix to find replacements for restricted colorants like Pigment Blue 15 (CI 74160), Pigment Green 7 (CI 74260), Pigment Red 22 (CI 12315), and Pigment Orange 13 (CI 21110).
2. Compare compliant colorants listed for each hue, and click Inspect in Registry on any candidate.

Tracking bottle shelf life and period after opening

1. Click Shelf & PAO Expiry and click Log Studio Ink Bottle to enter shade and batch details.
2. Select duration under Period After Opening (PAO) like 6 Months (6M) or 12 Months (12M), click Save Bottle to Inventory, and click Mark Opened Today.
3. Review proactive shelf-life alerts at the top of the dashboard. Click Filter Expired Stock to isolate bottles that have surpassed their factory expiration date or PAO window, or click Show All ({count}) to view active inventory.

Logging custom ink blends, washes, and dilutions

1. Click Custom Blends and click Log New Blend / Wash to open Record Custom Formulation / Dilution.
2. Select Mixture Type * such as Graywash (Shading), Lining Wash, or Color Dilution / Blend, and assign an Assigned Mixture Lot / Batch * and a Shelf-Life Window (Days).
3. Add base ink components under Base Ink Components with exact lot numbers from studio stock, and select an approved carrier diluent under Diluent / Carrier Component such as Distilled / Sterile Water (Ph. Eur.), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana), Glycerin (Vegetable EP/USP), or Manufacturer Shading Solution.
4. Click Save Mixture Recipe. Logged custom mixtures can be selected directly inside client session records.

Logging client tattoo sessions for batch traceability

1. Click Client Sessions, click Log New Session, and enter Consent / Client Ref # *, Client Name / Initials, and Anatomical Placement.
2. Attach bottles via Select ink from inventory or audits..., click Save Session Record, and click Print Card for a printed traceability slip.

Auditing batch recalls and client safety traceability

1. Click Batch Recall to access the Batch Safety & Recall Auditor.
2. Enter a suspect batch reference into Enter suspect batch or lot number (e.g. LOT-2023-04)... or select from Known Studio Batches:.
3. Review key metrics including Affected Clients, Impacted Procedures, and Bottles on Shelf.
4. If affected bottles exist in active inventory, the banner ACTION REQUIRED: Batch Matches Shelf Stock signals items to isolate immediately.
5. Click Copy Traceability Report or Export CSV Audit to compile a verifiable audit record for regulatory authorities or client notifications.

Evaluating heavy metal impurities on certificates of analysis

1. Click COA Impurities, click Evaluate New COA, and enter the batch number, ink name, and manufacturer.
2. Enter ppm values in Input Measured Concentration from COA (in mg/kg or ppm) to view PASS or FAIL badges against Appendix 13 limits, and click Calculate & Save COA Evaluation.
3. To extract data automatically from analytical documents, click Parse Raw COA / Lab Report Text, paste test report text or OCR output into the parser, click Extract Chemical Limits, and click Fill Form With Extracted Values.

Managing saved studio inks and data export

1. Click Studio Saved Inks to review evaluated formulations stored on this device.
2. Click Download as CSV for spreadsheets, Download as JSON for backups, or Batch Label to open the Printable Bottle Batch Label, a printable slip with the ink, brand, LOT number, and the date you checked it, plus a Copy JSON button to keep the same data in your own system.

Reviewing the Pigment Blue 15:3 and Green 7 timeline

1. Click Pigment Blue 15:3 & Green 7 to review the regulatory timeline for copper phthalocyanine blue and green.
2. Note that the transition derogation in Paragraph 4(c) of Entry 75 expired on 4 January 2023, and click Test Phthalo Blue & Green in Decoder.

Consulting the plain-language rule guide

1. Click Plain-Language Rule Guide to review the legal scope, container labeling rules, Safety Data Sheet standards, and restriction categories.
2. Click Test an Ink Label in the Decoder → to return to label analysis.

Generating manufacturer inquiry sheets

1. Click Maker Question Sheet and fill in studio, reviewer, brand, and batch details.
2. Under Unrecognised Ingredient(s) Requiring Clarification:, review items and click Copy Email Text or Print Questionnaire Sheet.

Managing studio profiles, backups, and station-to-station peer-to-peer sync

1. Click Edit Artist & Studio Profile / Custom Photo in the header to set your artist and studio details.
2. Open Local Storage & Station Transfer to export via Export Backup (.json) or Export Encrypted (.enc), or restore via Import Backup.
3. To transfer data directly between computers on your studio network without intermediate files or internet servers, switch to Direct Station-to-Station Sync (P2P).
4. On the sending station, click Generate Air-Gapped Sync Payload and copy the direct transfer token.
5. On the receiving station, paste the token into Import Station Sync Payload and click Merge Records Into Local Storage.

What it does not do

• It does not screen piercing jewelry alloys against the REACH Candidate List. For assessing piercing jewelry and packaging compliance, use the REACH SVHC Candidate List Checker (https://poliinternational.com/reach-svhc-checker/).
• It does not calculate pigment dilution percentages or graywash shading steps. For mixing math, shading formulas, and volume measurements, use the Tattoo Ink Dilution & Mixing Ratio Calculator (https://poliinternational.com/tattoo-ink-mixer/).
• It does not track client medical histories or skin patch tests. For client sensitivity logging and patch test protocols, use the Studio Allergy & Patch Test Protocol Logger (https://poliinternational.com/allergy-patch-test/).
• It does not perform physical chemical spectroscopy. The software analyzes text provided on labels and cannot physically test ink bottles for undisclosed chemical adulterants.

Where your data lives

All data entered into this application lives exclusively in your web browser on this device using client-side localStorage and IndexedDB. No data is transmitted across the internet, sent to remote databases, or collected by telemetry servers.

Storage is cleared if you clear browser site data, reset site settings, or click Clear All Stored Audits. Backups can be exported via Export Backup (.json) or encrypted via Export Encrypted (.enc), or synchronized between workstations using Direct Station-to-Station Sync (P2P).

Printing and exporting

Print stylesheets automatically format documents and hide navigation bars when printing from Print Questionnaire Sheet, Print Card, or Print Label.

Data can also be exported via Download as CSV in Studio Saved Inks, as batch recall audits via Export CSV Audit, as backups via Export Backup (.json) or Export Encrypted (.enc), or as a printable batch record via Batch Label.

Questions and answers

Are Pigment Blue 15:3 and Pigment Green 7 illegal in tattoo inks in Europe?

Pigment Blue 15:3 (CI 74160) and Pigment Green 7 (CI 74260) are restricted in tattoo inks across the European Union under REACH Annex XVII Entry 75. Their transition derogation expired on 4 January 2023, making non-exempt inks containing them unmarketable.

What is the difference between a prohibited and a restricted tattoo ink ingredient?

Prohibited substances are completely banned from intentional addition and cannot be present above unavoidable trace thresholds. Restricted substances are permitted in tattoo mixtures only if laboratory analysis confirms concentrations remain below specific statutory thresholds in Appendix 13 of Entry 75.

How does the batch recall auditor trace affected clients if an ink is recalled?

When a manufacturer issues a recall notice or an authority flags a lot, enter the batch code into Batch Recall. The auditor searches all historical client session records and active inventory in local storage. It identifies exact procedure dates, client references, anatomical placements, treating artists, and whether that lot was blended into custom studio graywashes.

How should custom graywashes or diluted inks be logged for EU compliance?

Under REACH Entry 75, any mixture applied to the dermis must comply with substance limits and batch traceability. In Custom Blends, artists record each base ink bottle with its manufacturer lot number, and specify the diluent (such as sterile water Ph. Eur. or witch hazel) with its own batch reference. The tool computes an expiration window based on local preparation dates so pre-mixed washes are not kept past their safe period.

Does the decoder cover tattoo ink rules outside the European Union?

Yes. The Global Regulations tab compares tattoo and permanent make-up ink requirements across the European Union (REACH Entry 75), the United States (FDA / MoCRA), Australia (AICIS), and Southeast Asia (ASEAN member states), including product classification, chemical thresholds, pigment approvals, and record-keeping obligations. The Divergence Explainer inside that tab lays out the differences in plain language, region by region.

How does direct station-to-station peer-to-peer sync work without cloud servers?

Direct peer-to-peer synchronization uses standard browser WebRTC data channels or manual air-gapped cryptographic tokens. Studio workstations on the same local network exchange encrypted connection handshakes without routing private studio records through an intermediary cloud server or remote database.

Why does an ink ingredient appear as unrecognised in the decoder?

An ingredient appears as unrecognised when its name or code cannot be matched to verified records in official REACH or Colour Index databases. The decoder never guesses chemical identities to avoid false safety assurances, prompting studios to request exact CAS numbers from the supplier.

What mandatory information must appear on an EU compliant tattoo ink bottle?

Containers must state "Mixture for use in tattoos or permanent make-up", display a unique batch reference number, and list all ingredients in descending order of weight. Labels must also state the period after opening or expiry date, and display allergy warnings if nickel or chromium VI exceeds notification thresholds.

Can a manufacturer claim an ink is REACH compliant without listing all ingredients?

A manufacturer cannot claim full compliance without complete label disclosure. European law requires every ingredient present in the formulation to be listed on the container, regardless of whether individual components fall below hazard disclosure thresholds on the Safety Data Sheet.

Where is my client session data stored when I log a tattoo procedure?

Client procedure records are stored exclusively in your local browser storage on your current device. No client names or session details are transmitted to Poli International or any cloud server. Periodic JSON or encrypted exports should be saved to an external studio backup drive.

Limits

This tool cannot verify whether the physical liquid inside a bottle matches the written label or Safety Data Sheet, nor can it identify undisclosed contaminants or substitute for accredited laboratory testing.

Official determinations of product compliance rest exclusively with national market surveillance authorities and accredited chemical laboratories in European Union Member States. Studio owners and artists remain solely responsible for verifying the authenticity of supplies.

Use the tool

Open the Tattoo Ink Ingredient Decoder: user guide. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.