Communicate formulations of tattooing products

Notification of the formulation of tattooing products or comparable preparations is done electronically. You can also transmit data for several formulations from one company at the same time:

• For data storage and correspondence purposes, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) assigns a BVL company code to each notifying company.
  • If you do not yet have a company code, you can apply for one before submitting the formulation notification.
  • You can apply for the company code using the online procedure or informally by e-mail, stating your contact details such as company name, address and telephone number.
• Download the table document from the BVL website, open it in a spreadsheet or word processing program and fill it out.
• If available, use the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) for your notification.
• If no INCI name is available for an ingredient, use the usual chemical name or, in the case of colorants, the CI number (Colour Index)
• You can submit your information to the BVL electronically in various ways.
  • Online procedure:
    • Call up the online form, enter your company code and all other required information and upload the table document with the data of your tattoo product.
    • After logging in to your organization account, you can send the notification of tattooing products.
  • E-mail:
    • Send the table document as an e-mail attachment.
    • You can encrypt emails if required.
  • Post:
    • If you want to send the table document by post, save it on an electronic data carrier such as a CD-ROM or DVD and then send it.
• The BVL will formally check whether the information is complete. If necessary, the BVL will contact you with a correction request.
• Check the correction request and inform the BVL of any changes required. If you do not have any corrections, you do not need to do anything else.
• You will automatically receive confirmation that your data has been transferred after about 4 weeks.
• If all the information is correct, the BVL will transfer your data to the poison information centers.
• You will receive a confirmation of the notification for your records.

They manufacture tattooing products including comparable substances and preparations, import them into Germany or place them on the market in Germany.

• completed table document with data on tattooing products or comparable preparations

There are no costs for you.

• You must notify the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) of formulations of tattooing products and comparable preparations/substances before placing them on the market for the first time in Germany.
• You must check the request to correct your data within 4 weeks.

• § Section 2 Ordinance on tattooing products including certain comparable substances and preparations of substances (Tattooing Products Ordinance)
• §§ Sections 26 and 27 of the German Food, Commodities and Feed Code (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, LFGB)
• Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/2081 of 14 December 2020 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards substances in tattoo inks or permanent make-up

No legal remedies are provided for.

• Information on the obligation to notify tattooing products on the website of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety
• Answers to frequently asked questions and legal requirements for tattooing products on the website of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety
• Public key for e-mail encryption on the website of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety

05.06.2025