New licensing proposed for non-surgical cosmetic procedures

A Commons select committee has backed the implementation of a broad national licensing framework for non-surgical cosmetic procedures that would supersede “local patchwork legislation”.

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has been conducting an inquiry into the science and regulation of hair and beauty products and treatments.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care now has the power to introduce an England-wide licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures under the Health and Care Act 2022. The previous government held a consultation on the scope of a proposed new licensing scheme in 2023.

The committee’s report echoes calls from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) for a broadening of the scope of the proposed new licensing scheme to include tattooing, piercing and electrolysis and for the revocation of current local licensing legislation in so far as it applies to procedures which are covered by the scheme.

CIEH, which represents environmental health practitioners working for local authorities on regulating cosmetic procedures, has consistently emphasised the need to avoid fragmentation and duplication in the regulatory framework. It points out that many businesses offer a range of procedures and will want to be regulated in an efficient way.

The committee also refers in its report to oral evidence from CIEH expert member Victor Ktorakis about the variation in standards between different local authority areas.

Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We are very keen to work with the government on the design and implementation of the proposed new England-wide licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The continuing delay in implementation of the scheme puts members of the public at unnecessary risk of harm.

“We also believe that the scope of the proposed new scheme should be extended to include tattooing, piercing and electrolysis, which are currently subject to registration under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, and that the relevant part of that Act and all the current licensing legislation should be revoked in so far as they apply to procedures which are covered by the new scheme.”