Website of the Department of Health

7 September 2006: Updated model byelaws

The above guidance provided separate new model byelaws for cosmetic piercing and semi-permanent skin-colouring.  These supplemented existing separate model byelaws for acupuncture, ear-piercing, electrolysis and tattooing.  However, since then in response to a growing demand, we have produced a new multi-purpose, 'pick and mix' set of model byelaws that can be used for one, several or all types of skin piercing/skin colouring currently regulated.

Health and Safety Executive / Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA): The Health and Safety Executive have issued Local Authority Circulars (LAC) providing guidance to enforcement officers and others on health and safety issues related to skin piercing (cosmetic piercing, permanent tattooing and scarification) and cosmetic treatment (micro-pigmentation, semi-permanent tattooing and semi-permanent make-up) respectively.

• Download guidance on Section 120 and Schedule 6 (PDF, 147K)
• Updated model byelaws for the regulation of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis by local authorities
• HSE LAC 14/1 Micropigmentation (opens new window)
• HSE LAC 76/2 Enforcement of skin piercing activities (opens new window)