Wales is set to become the first UK nation to introduce a mandatory national licensing scheme for tattoo artists and those working in body piercing, semi-permanent make-up, acupuncture and electrolysis, Chief Medical Officer Frank Atherton has announced.
The scheme aims to reduce infections, eliminate poor working practices and will create a central public register for licensed practitioners and approved business premises. It is the final phase of changes introduced under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 to improve standards of infection prevention and control in the industry.
There are an estimated 3,516 practitioners operating in Wales who will need to be licensed, and 1,868 premises that will require approval under the new mandatory licensing scheme. The pass rate for those practitioners who have so far voluntarily already undertaken the Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention and Control is 95%.
A 12-week consultation, Mandatory licensing of special procedures in Wales | GOV.WALES, has been launched to seek the views of all stakeholders, including practitioners, local authorities and the public.
For further information please select the following link Wales to introduce UK-first mandatory national licensing scheme for special procedures such as tattoos | GOV.WALES