Stewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeStewart Barbara: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 26 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13777. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) to theMinister of Health: What concerns if any does he have about the level of “heavy metal” in tattoo inks in New Zealand?Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health): Under this Government at the end of 2011 the Environmental Protection Authority introduced a new standard that sets the controls for tattoo inks including labelling safety data sheets advertising storage and safe disposal. The Environmental Protection Authority also recently developed a voluntary guideline to manage the risks associated with the chemical composition of tattoo inks. I am concerned at the results of a recent Ministry of Health survey of heavy metal in tattoo inks which found that 9 of 18 grams did not comply with the Environmental Protection Authority guidelines.Barbara Stewart: Is he concerned about the number of young New Zealanders whose back-alley tattoos by an unlicensed operator unnecessarily expose them to infections scarring or even cancer?Hon TONY RYALL: The member sounds a warning that people do need to consider. Many people may not be aware that tattoo inks may pose harm from the chemicals from which they are made. Making the results of this survey available will provide useful information for tattoo artists when deciding which tattoo inks to purchase and it does also provide information for those people who are deciding whether or not to have a tattoo.Barbara Stewart: Will the Minister put tattoo kits on the list of medical devices in order to restrict sales to only those operators with licences?Hon TONY RYALL: The primary response from the regulation side at the moment is the Environmental Protection Authority’s standard. That standard has voluntary guidance. It has essentially been in for the last 18 months. I think the member raises an issue that is similar to the issue of solaria. If it is clear that the industry is not responding sufficiently to the voluntary guidelines then there will need to be another response from the regulatory authorities.Barbara Stewart: Would the Minister consider following Australia’s example and introduce an age restriction or parental consent law in order to protect the health of young New Zealanders?Hon TONY RYALL: My understanding is that I think that Parliament had an opportunity to vote on that in some legislation in the early 2000s and voted against it. More particularly I think that on the issue that the member has raised quite rightly about heavy metals in tattoo inks the Environmental Protection Authority advises that it is not aware of those being regulated at a national level anywhere else. I think that what is important is the fact that people who are considering having a tattoo should learn about the various metals that are used in the tattoo procedure.Barbara Stewart: Does he intend to take any action to remedy this situation for concerned parents; if not why not?Hon TONY RYALL: The Ministry has published the results of its surveys including the brands on its website and has made that information available to the Tattoo Artists Association of New Zealand. The Ministry has asked the association to advise its members to use only inks that comply with the Environmental ProtectionAuthority guidelines. The Ministry of Health has also sent the report to the district health board public health units in order to inform their work with local tattooists on safety and hygiene. Again those people who are considering a tattoo should make themselves aware of all the information that is available in respect of any personal safety risks.Barbara Stewart: Does the Minister agree that unsafe practices by unlicensed tattoo artists which put New Zealanders at the risk of hepatitis C and other blood-borne illnesses should be prevented at all cost?Hon TONY RYALL: We would be concerned about unsafe practices by those who are licensed and not licensed. One of those practices that we and the Environmental Protection Authority would like to prevent is the use of these tattoo inks with heavy metals that do not meet the compliance requirement. That is the reason why we have made those results available and why public health units will be able to use that information to inform their work with local tattooists.