Warning
We warn you that the information below will not be easy process, but we recommend that you familiarize yourself with it in order to understand what you work with.
European Community (EC) number
The European Community (EC) number is a seven-digit identifier assigned by the European Commission to a specific substance for regulatory purposes within the EUROPEAN UNION.
The numbers that we see in ink formulations are contained in the list of existing commercial chemicals EINECS (European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances). They are assigned to all commercial chemicals that are used in production (not just inks).
If you dig a little deeper, you can find numbers for almost any chemical. For example, the number for water is EC 213-791-2. Glycerin is EC 200-289-5.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
If inks are produced or sold in Europe, the manufacturer needs to obtain the so-called Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). In Russia, this document is called “The Safety Data Sheet for Chemical Products” and, by the way, is not mandatory for ink manufacturers (we have an official confirmation from the regulatory authority—a letter of refusal).
So, in MSDS, these numbers must be indicated in the description of the compositions of each substance.
For a permanent makeup artist, this is far from the most important information on the label. In simple words: you understand that the cosmetic bases of your inks comply with European standards. But it doesn't hurt to know.
And once again to consolidate: the safety data sheet of chemical products in Russia is NOT used for the production of tattoo and permanent makeup inks. It is also NOT the responsibility of the manufacturer to indicate EINECS numbers on labels for the domestic market.
