| Date -03 Dec 2007 | Return to previous page |
The public in Moray are being warned of the health risks associated with having tattoos or skin-piercing carried out on unlicensed premises.
The warning has come from Moray Council’s environmental health section which is responsible for ensuring that tattoo and body-piercing studios are properly licensed in line with strict new legislation.
Businesses offering electrolysis, ear piercing and acupuncture also require to be licensed in the interests of customers’ health and safety.
Body piercing and tattooing have become increasingly popular in recent years and the council’s environmental health staff have been carrying out inspections of premises.
They have also been working closely with businesses by giving advice and guidance on the new nationally agreed licensing conditions.
Strict hygiene and infection control standards have to be met, with the use of sterilised equipment of primary importance.
Pre-treatment health questionnaires have to be completed and clients provided with the proper aftercare advice.
Customers who have tattoos or piercings carried out on unlicensed premises could be exposing themselves to serious risk from blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C.
Other associated hazards include swelling around the piercing site, scarring, jewellery embedding in the skin, bacterial infections and allergic reactions to jewellery metal.Copies of the appropriate licences and photographs of trained practitioners must be displayed on the premises and the public should always ask to see proof that the business and practitioners hold the appropriate licences.
Concerns or queries about specific premises should be raised with the environmental health section.
Principal environmental health officer Kevin Boyle said: “The licensing regime has also introduced for the first time an age restriction for skin-piercing whereby people under 16 have to be accompanied by a parents or guardian who must give their consent in writing.
“This has been the cause of family conflict in the past, with a number of concerned parents contacting us after their children had been able to get piercings done unaccompanied.”
Mr Boyle stressed that the law strictly prohibits the tattooing of anyone under the ago of 18.
He added: “The fact that the licence conditions have been agreed nationally should ensure greater consistency in enforcement throughout Scotland, with all local authorities applying the same standards in this important area of public health protection.”
Andrew Fraser, who has run the Elgin Tattoo Centre in Bishopmill for 11 years, welcomed the introduction of licensing.
“It will bring everyone into line and create a set of rules for everyone to adhere to,” he said.