Dye Selection – Regulatory Considerations
When selecting dyes, colorants, and pigment dispersions to use in your products, regulations need to be considered.
Registrations
Consider where you plan on selling your product because requirements differ based on the country and/or continent. The contents of each colorant need to be accepted by the relevant regulatory board:
- TSCA, USA
- DSL, Canada
- EINECS, Europe
- AICS, Australia
- KECL, Korea
- IECSC, China
- PICCS, Philippines
- NZIoC, New Zealand
- ENCS/MITI, Japan
Our products’ Technical Bulletins list which regulatory boards have allowed that dye or colorant. Visit our Global Liquid Dyes Page for a list of a few of our globally registered liquid dyes.
Food & Drug Administration
Perhaps the dyes and pigments in your product need to be FDA certified? Certified colorants need to be used:
- for food, drugs, and cosmetics.
- where cosmetic claims are made, such as “moisturizing” or “deodorizing”.
- where antibacterial claims are made.
- when your product may come in direct contact with food.
Certified colorants may be required in other applications such as in pesticides and seed treatments & coatings.
Certifications
Specific dyes, colorants, and pigment dispersions need to be used if you are applying for a certification such as Green Seal and Safer Choice (formerly Designed for the Environment).
