Safety move on body piercing

Registration is not required, except in Edinburgh

The Scottish Executive has begun considering moves to review safety and hygiene at tattoo and body piercing salons in Scotland.

On Friday, Malcolm Chisholm, deputy minister for health and community care, launched a consultation document to investigate the possibility of tighter rules.

Mr Chisholm said he wished to hear from people with opinions on how to stamp out blood-borne viruses and other infections caused by dirty equipment or contaminated tattoo colours.

It is estimated that more than 200 skin piercing businesses operate in Scotland.

There are no specific powers to assess the skills and training of operators and no agreed standard for inspection

Malcolm Chisholm, deputy health minister

Although there have been no reported cases of HIV infection there have been documented cases of Hepatitis B.

Mr Chisholm said: "Skin and body piercing has grown in popularity in recent years, and with this growth have come calls for a greater degree of control.

"If proper hygienic precautions are not taken there is a risk of transmission of serious infections like Hepatitis B or C - as well as other complications.

"Yet, in spite of these dangers, there are very few legal controls over skin and body piercing, no specific powers to assess the skills and training of operators and no agreed standard for inspection."

No registration

At present, with the exception of Edinburgh, skin and body piercing businesses are not required to register before beginning to practice.

However, the executive is looking at a range of measures, including adopting guidelines and introducing new licensing rules through existing or new legislation.

The only current control over any element of skin piercing in Scotland is the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969, under which it is a criminal offence to tattoo a person under 18 years.

Piercing is now in the mainstream

Skin piercing in that context can include ear piercing, tattooing, acupuncture, electrolysis, cosmetic body piercing and semi-permanent make-up.

In Edinburgh, acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing and electrolysis also currently come under a registration scheme operated by the local authority.

However, this has limited regulatory sanction and serves mainly to ensure that the council is aware that these practitioners are trading in Edinburgh.

Consultation is to be undertaken with local authorities, NHS and public health interests, health advisory groups, the skin and body piercing industry, medical professional bodies, acupuncture professional bodies, consumer groups, political parties and other organisations and individuals with an interest.

In September last year, Stirling MSP Dr Sylvia Jackson put forward a scheme to regulate body piercing salons.