Guidance and byelaws for carrying out skin piercing at premises in Eastbourne.
Both the person carrying out skin piercing procedures and the premises must be registered with Environmental Health and must comply with the council's byelaws.
Byelaws in Eastbourne
Our byelaws require us to check:
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The cleanliness of premises registered under the Act for acupuncture, tattooing, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis or semi-permanent skin colouring, and fittings in such premises
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The cleanliness of persons so registered and persons assisting persons so registered in the business in respect of which they are registered
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The cleansing and, so far as is appropriate, the sterilisation of instruments, materials and equipment used in connection with a business in respect of which a person is registered.
Offences
A person is guilty of an offence if he or she:
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Carries on the practice of acupuncture or the business of tattooing, or of cosmetic piercing or of electrolysis or of semi-permanent skin colouring a premises which are not registered by Eastbourne Borough Council, or
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Carries on such practice or business when he is not himself registered for that purpose with Eastbourne Borough Council, or
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Contravenes the bye-laws made in relation to acupuncture, tattooing, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis and semi-permanent skin colouring
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Tattoos any person under the age of 18 years (the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969) regardless of parental consent. This would be dealt with by the police, not the council.
Guidance
The health of the client and the suitability of the treatment should be discussed prior to its administration.
There is no statutory limit on the age of persons to be body pierced. Those under 16 can give consent on their own provided they have been given sufficient information and the practitioner concludes they are mature enough to understand the implications of their request.
The guidance we give to our operators is that if they suspect a client of being under 16 they should ask to see photo ID or request that a parent or guardian be present.
Nipple and genital piercing is prohibited on minors, regardless of parental consent.
Further guidance is available on the Department of Health (DH) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) websites.
