For Safe Tattoo Ink: External experts wanted for new BfR Commission
Just body art or a risk that gets under your skin? The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has been researching the safety of tattoo inks for many years. As such, the BfR is now setting up a Commission for Tattoo Inks to help evaluate and reduce their associated health risks even more comprehensively. To make this a reality, we're looking for qualified experts from various disciplines, in particular chemical analysis, technology, toxicology and medicine, who would like to use their expertise to advise the BfR. "We are always looking for those who excel in their field in order to pool the available expertise in Germany on tattoo inks at the highest scientific level," says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "Despite progress in identifying health risks, areas such as the long-term effects of colour pigments in the body still require research. The commission’s work focuses on providing relevant technical advice."
Interested scientists can apply for the appointment period of 2023 to 2025 by clicking by 15 July 2022.
The members of the Commission advise the BfR on questions relating to the composition of tattoo inks, their analysis and the manufacturing processes, as well as on the toxicological testing of tattoo ink pigments. This requires assessment of the suitability of test guidelines as well as the need for further and re-development. The BfR Commission for Tattoo Inks will have a maximum of 15 external and independent experts who are distinguished by their scientific expertise within their respective fields. In order to ensure the future viability of BfR Committees in the long-term, particular consideration will be given to young scientists. The official language of the BfR Commission for Tattoo Inks is English.
Membership in BfR committees is a personal and non-transferable honorary position. The selection is made by an independent panel of experts.
For further information on the committees' work, see:
About the BfR
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. The BfR advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfR conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.