Licences - Acupuncture, Tattooing, Ear Piercing and Electrolysis Registration

Even if you do not need to register, a body piercer must ensure that the procedures, equipment and facilities used are safe, hygienic, prevent the spread of disease and comply fully with the general duty of care required by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Use the Licences - Acupuncture, Tattoos, Ear Piercing or Electrolysis Registration Application form to register. You can download a form in Word document format or contact Customer Services on 01749 648999 for a form. Complete and return the form together with the appropriate fee.

When we receive the form we will arrange for a Health and Safety Inspector to inspect the premises. If the inspector considers your procedures and premises suitable, then registration will be approved. It is illegal to conduct ear piercing, tattooing, acupuncture or electrolysis unless your registration has been formally approved.

The inspector will:

• check compliance with the bye-law requirements
• ensure general health and safety requirements are being met.

The inspector will be pleased to offer advice or help if you are not sure how to meet these obligations.

Risks Associated With Body Piercing

The risks associated with body piercing are from blood borne diseases such as hepatitis (B, C etc.) and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The hepatitis viruses are very resilient and can be very infectious, spreading easily from person to person via contact with small amounts of infected blood, tissue fluids and serum. They are so resilient that some strains have been known to survive for 8 years in laboratory conditions.

Bye-laws Requirements

Premises

• All surfaces in any part of the premises used by clients must be kept clean and in good repair.
• All furniture and fittings in the treatment area must be kept clean and in good repair.
• Tables, couches, seats etc used in the treatment area must have a smooth , impervious surface which is regularly wiped down with disinfectant and covered by a disposable paper sheet, changed after each client.
• A 'No Smoking' sign must be prominently displayed.

Cleanliness of operatives

• Any overall worn by the operative should be clean and in good repair
• The operative's hands and nails must be kept clean.
• Any open cut, wound, sore or boil must be suitably covered by an impermeable dressing.
• The operative should not smoke or drink in the treatment area.
• The operative should have sole use of the washing facilities, which must provide hot and cold running water, soap (or a similar cleanser) and a nail brush.

Equipment

• Any needle, metal instrument or other item of equipment used in the treatment must be in a sterile condition, and kept sterile until it is used.
• If pre-sterilised items are not used, then adequate facilities must be provided for sterilisation.
• If tattooing is being done, then all dyes used must be bacteriologically clean and inert. The containers used to hold dyes for each customer must be disposed of at the end of each treatment or sterilised before re-use.

After care

• Customers should be given after care instructions (preferably written) as this will help to reduce the risk of post-piercing infection.

Special treatment licence (personal)

	Special Treatment License (Personal)
License Summary	If you run an establishment for 'special treatments' in you may require a licence. Special treatments include: massage manicure acupuncture tattooing cosmetic piercing light treatments, eg sunbeds electric treatments, eg electrolysis other special treatments, eg semi-permanent skin colouring, vapour, sauna or other bath treatments Applications should be made to your local authority or county council and may be subject to a fee. You must provide any requested information in your application.
Eligibillity Criteria	You may be refused a licence if: you are under 21 years of age you have been convicted of an offence under specified acts or you are deemed unsuitable the premises you intend to use are unsuitable you don't have staff with adequate professional or technical experience your establishment is being carried out in contravention of any local act or bylaw
Regulation Summary	A downloadable summary of the regulation relating to this licence (PDF, 1MB)
Application Evaluation Process	The county council or local authority will take into account any representations made by the chief constable regarding your application. You will be given the opportunity to make representations before your application is refused.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?	Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period OR No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.
Apply online	Apply for a massage and special treatment licence
Failed Application Redress	Please contact your local authority in the first instance. If you wish to appeal against a decision of the county council or local authority you may do so to the local Magistrates' Court.
Licence Holder Redress	Please contact your local authority in the first instance. If you wish to appeal against a decision of the county council or local authority you may do so to the local Magistrates' Court.
Consumer Complaint	We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other Redress	E.g. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder complain about another.
Trade Associations	British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) British Association of Skin Camouflage Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP)

Special treatment licence (premises)

	Special Treatment License (Premises)
License Summary	If you run an establishment for 'special treatments' in you may require a licence for your premises. Special treatments include: massage manicure acupuncture tattooing cosmetic piercing light treatments, eg sunbeds electric treatments, eg electrolysis other special treatments, eg semi-permanent skin colouring, vapour, sauna or other bath treatments Applications are made to your borough council or local authority and may be subject to a fee. Licences may be subject to conditions. You may also be required to give notice of your application to the local Chief constable. In Greater London you must also provide a copy of the application to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. You may also be required to give other notices, including public advertisement. This licence may be required in addition to a skin piercing, tattooing or acupuncture licence required under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1982.
Eligibillity Criteria	Your application may be refused for one of the following reasons: the premises are not suitable, don't have safe heating, satisfactory lighting, sanitation, ventilation and don't have adequate fire precautions including firefighting equipment and fire escapes there is a likelihood of nuisance being caused in the area the person who will manage the premises is not fit and proper the people giving the treatments are not suitably qualified the safety of equipment is not satisfactory there is question as to the safety of the treatment being given you have been convicted of particular offences you fail to comply with any legal requirements
Regulation Summary	A summary of the regulation relating to this licence
Application Evaluation Process	The county council or local authority will take into account any representations made by the chief constable and in London, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority regarding your application. You will be given the opportunity to make representations before your application is refused.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?	Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period OR No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.
Apply online	Apply for a massage and special treatment licence Tell us about a change to your existing massage and special treatment premises Tell us about a change to your existing massage and special treatment premises Apply for a massage and special treatment licence Tell us about a change to your existing massage and special treatment premises Tell us about a change to your existing massage and special treatment premises Tell us about a change to your existing massage and special treatment premises
Failed Application Redress	Please contact your local authority in the first instance. Please contact your local authority in the first instance. If you wish to appeal against a decision of the county council or local authority you may do so to the local Magistrates' Court. Appeals must be made within 21 days of the date you received notification of the decision in writing. Magistrates' court decisions can be appealed to the Crown Court.
Licence Holder Redress	Please contact your local authority in the first instance. If you wish to appeal against a decision of the county council or local authority you may do so to the local Magistrates' Court. Appeals must be made within 21 days of the date you received notification of the decision in writing. Magistrates' court decisions can be appealed to the Crown Court.
Consumer Complaint	We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other Redress	E.g. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder complain about another.
Trade Associations	British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) British Association of Skin Camouflage Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP)

Client Suitability and Client Records

We strongly recommend you to keep a register containing your clients' details, including

• name
• address
• type of treatment
• date of treatment.

These records should be kept for at least 1 year.

It is an offence to tattoo any person under the age of 18 years (the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969), regardless of parental consent.

A person under the age of 18 years may receive body piercing if you have received written permission from, or the treatment is performed in the presence of, the person's parent or guardian.

Nipple and genital piercing is prohibited on minors, regardless of parental consent.

The health of the client and the suitability of the treatment should be discussed before its administration.

Contact

Last Updated

11 August 2010

Page last updated on 11 August 2010