. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/DEU/6 
1 April 2008 
 (08-1427) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   GERMANY
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:    
Federal Ministry of Food, Agri culture and Consumer Protection 
Division 613 (International Trade Affairs) Wilhelmstrasse 54 
10117 Berlin 
Germany  phone: +49 30 185290 fax: +49 30 185293276 email: 613@bmelv.bund.de Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Agent for tattooing and 
comparable substances and preparations. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Ordinance on 
tattooing agents, including specific comparable substances and preparations from substances (Tattooing Agent Ordinance) (12 pages, in German). 
6. Description of content:   After the use of tattooing agents, intolerance reactions, i.e. in the 
form of eczematous, phototoxic or  contact dermatitis have been  documented. Chemical tests 
on tattooing agents showed th at such products may contain substances involving a potential 
health hazard. These are, for example, h eavy metals or azo dyes that can split off 
carcinogenic amines or substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. It is therefore imperative to ba n the use of these substances for the production 
of tattooing agents and to set further requirements for tattooing agents. 
This Ordinance prohibits the use of specific substances in the commercial production or 
treatment of agents for tattooing. The same applies to substances and preparations from 
substances, comparable to tattooing agents, that  are intended to be inserted in or under the 
human skin and to remain there, also temporar ily, to influence the appearance. In addition, 
reporting requirements are prescribed for manufacturers and importers as well as specific labelling requirements. G/TBT/N/DEU/6 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of human health 
8. Relevant documents:   - 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }In the course of 2008 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from date of notification 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [   ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
Federal Ministry of Food, Agri culture and Consumer Protection 
Division 613 (International Trade Affairs) Wilhelmstrasse 54 10117 Berlin 
Germany  
Tel: +49 30 185290 Fax: +49 30 185293276 Email: 613@bmelv.bund.de 
 
The full text can be downloaded from: 
http://members.wto.org/crnatt achments/2008/tbt/DEU/08_0992_00_x.pdf