Illegal Ink? Sumi Ink...

[markh]

I'm very curious - I tried ordering a bottle of Sumi ink from Amazon - I'm taking a calligraphy class.

Yasutomo KY6 Sumi Ink

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Yasutomo+KY6+Sumi+Ink

 

It's apparently illegal to ship this to California. This seems pretty strange to me - anyone have an idea of what could be illegal about this ink??

 

 

thx,

 

.

 

 

[EMQG]

California has a lot of strict health requirements. No idea what's in Sumi ink, but California deems it unsafe. They're probably right (their health codes are strict but usually for good reason) but it's annoying sometimes.

[linearM]

You might check with this site, the company is in Oregon: http://imcclains.com/catalog/ink/kaimeibokuju.html. I know I can purchase sumi ink in Minnesota without any trouble.

[dcwaites]

Looking at this site - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Yasutomo-Sumi-Ink-6-oz-Black/48546486#read-more - the notes say

"California Proposition 65 Warning: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm "

 

However there are other Sumi inks available. I use the Sumi ink available from Daiso. If you have a store nearby, and they have some in stock, try it.

[MercianScribe]

Hope cotton wool is legal in Cali, or what are you going to be able to cocoon yourselves in?!

[Bo Bo Olson]

4001 Blue-black is illegal in the States....no where else.

You can probably order bottles from Germany and slide though customs. I'd suggest ordering more than just the blue black to confuse the enemy.

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi Mark,

 

My advice would be to have Amazon ship it to a friend or family member who lives out of state and have them ship it you. Private, interstate mail usually doesn't go through any inspection... except an x-ray to look for guns, bombs, switchblades and the like.

 

I hope this advice helps... anytime I can stick it sideways to the Nanny State; I consider it time well spent.

 

Be well and try to enjoy life in California... ...I know it isn't easy... it isn't much better in Jersey.

 

 

- Anthony

 

EDITED to correct typo.

Edited October 2, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[ParkerDuofold]

...the notes say

"California Proposition 65 Warning: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm "

This is why I'm glad I live in Jersey... nothing causes cancer here.

 

Be well all... or as close to it as you can get... and enjoy life.

 

 

- Anthony

[KellyMcJ]

Looking at this site - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Yasutomo-Sumi-Ink-6-oz-Black/48546486#read-more - the notes say

"California Proposition 65 Warning: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm "

 

However there are other Sumi inks available. I use the Sumi ink available from Daiso. If you have a store nearby, and they have some in stock, try it.

 

California thinks everything causes cancer. It was pretty funny to see this warning on gloves (PPE). I had a good laugh. "Personal protective equipment may cause cancer."

 

As far as I know, though, nothing bearing that warning is actually illegal in California, or California would be a barren place.

 

That doesn't mean that there aren't other regulations about what can and can't be shipped there (Maybe this ink isn't properly labeled with the California Death Warning?) and the seller may be overly cautious.

[ENewton]

I live in California and have bought Sumi ink at brick and mortar stores here.

 

I also notice that the label on the bottle says the product is imported from Japan by a company in South San Francisco, California.

 

I suspect that the reason Amazon cannot ship the product to California has nothing to do with safety.

[LizEF]

This is why I'm glad I live in Jersey... nothing causes cancer here.

 

Yeah, but no offers are valid in New Jersey, so there's a trade off for you...

[inkstainedruth]

4001 Blue-black is illegal in the States....no where else.

You can probably order bottles from Germany and slide though customs. I'd suggest ordering more than just the blue black to confuse the enemy.

 

And I tried to buy Quink Permanent Blue from an eBay seller in the UK and was told that he/she wasn't allowed to ship it to the US. Go figure. I mean, I don't THINK I'm Cruella deVille (in the book 101 Dalmatians -- not sure it's in either movie version -- Mrs. Darling says she went to school with Cruella until Cruella was expelled for drinking ink.... ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mr.Rene]

4001 Blue-black is illegal in the States....no where else.

You can probably order bottles from Germany and slide though customs. I'd suggest ordering more than just the blue black to confuse the enemy.

[linearM]

I purchased Peikan Blue-black from Pendemonium. Where they got it I'm not sure. I've purchased sumi from local art stores. Perhaps it is the brand you are trying to purchase. Try your local art supply store Amazon isn't the only source for everything.

[ParkerDuofold]

Yeah, but no offers are valid in New Jersey, so there's a trade off for you...

 

- A.C.

[ParkerDuofold]

And I tried to buy Quink Permanent Blue from an eBay seller in the UK and was told that he/she wasn't allowed to ship it to the US...

Hi Ruth, et al,

 

On Amazon, try SASUKE of Japan... that's where I get mine from.

 

They shipped three bottles to me this past February... no problems.

 

 

- Anthony

 

EDITED to remove displayed HTML from quote.

Edited October 2, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[pajaro]

When I was three I drank the best part of one of the big bottles of Sheaffer blue black. I got a little on the rose sofa.

 

I'm alright ... all right ... all right ... all right ...

Edited October 3, 2017 by pajaro

[Tasmith]

Be well and try to enjoy life in California... ...I know it isn't easy... it isn't much better in Jersey.

 

 

- Anthony

 

EDITED to correct typo.

 

Decades ago when I was stationed in Japan, I purchased a photography book via mail order from a source in New Jersey. After I received the book, I got a letter from the "New Jersey Office of the California Department of Taxation". Thought it was a joke, but to be careful I took it to my legal officer and he called their office. No joke. They said that the titled of the book sounded "Professional" and I owed California sales tax on it. I replied I didn't live in California, and I wasn't a professional photographer, I was just a service member studying photography in my spare time. They said "You have an FPO address with a California Zip Code, therefore you are technically in California". The good Captain did managed to convince them of my amateur status and so I didn't owe any tax. Whew!

Edited October 3, 2017 by Tasmith

[Water Ouzel]

California has a lot of strict health requirements. No idea what's in Sumi ink, but California deems it unsafe. They're probably right (their health codes are strict but usually for good reason) but it's annoying sometimes.

 

Then again, they're just as likely to be wrong.

 

California's Prop 65 is so vaguely framed that just about anything can be deemed to be harmful, ignoring little things like concentration, exposure modalities, presence or lack of clinical evidence, etc etc etc ...

 

(Ignore me, I'm an ex-Californian with some background in organic and inorganic chemistry, microbiology, biological effects of radiation. Sigh.)

[Water Ouzel]

 

California thinks everything causes cancer. It was pretty funny to see this warning on gloves (PPE). I had a good laugh. "Personal protective equipment may cause cancer."

I recall seeing a prop 65 warning in a pair of slip-joint pliers earlier today. Probably because it had vinyl-coated handles.