Anyone who wants to perform acupuncture, piercing, tattooing, electrolysis or semi-permanent skin colouring as a business must register to do so. This does not include where a person is under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner or a dentist.
The aim of registration is to protect members of the public from the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and other infections.
Both the person who performs the work and the place where the skin piercing takes place must be registered. Mobile skin piercers only have to be registered as a person as they do not operate at a single specific premises. If you do not register you can be fined and in some cases your registration will be suspended.
How to apply
You need to complete and return an application form. You can contact us for a form or you can download one. Completed forms must be returned to us with the registration fee. Separate fees are required for registering the person and registering the premises. A list of current fees can be found under 'More in this topic' - application fees and charges.
When we have received and processed your application forms we will issue you with a registration certificate. The registration certificate together with a copy of the byelaws must be displayed at the premises.