CIEH welcomes new mandatory licensing scheme for special procedures in Wales

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has welcomed the new mandatory licensing scheme for acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis and tattooing in Wales.

The new scheme, which has been introduced by the Welsh Government, will mean that these special procedures can be performed only by licensed practitioners and only in approved premises and vehicles.

Practitioners and individuals in charge of premises or vehicles where any of these procedures are performed will have to complete an infection prevention and control course. Their premises and vehicles will have to meet strict safety standards.

The aim is to reduce the hygiene and safety risks of the procedures, such as the risk of bloodborne infections.

CIEH’s response to a Welsh Government consultation on the scheme can be found here.

Julie Barratt, immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We warmly welcome this new mandatory licensing scheme and are delighted to have engaged with the development of it.

The scheme will increase safety for individuals receiving any of these procedures, protecting them from the risk of infection and from long term damage to their health.

We strongly encourage people receiving the procedures to refer to the new national register before doing so and encourage practitioners to apply to their local authority for registration.

This is a really important step forward from the Welsh Government and we will be lobbying for it to be followed elsewhere.”