Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on the regulation of body piercings.

The Department is responsible for the confirmation of byelaws for regulating cosmetic piercing businesses in England under Section 236 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Local authorities in England are responsible for the regulation of piercing providers, under the Local Government Act 2003, and may implement byelaws. They have powers to regulate the hygiene and cleanliness of the practice of acupuncture and of businesses providing tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. In 2006 the Department produced a new consolidated set of model byelaws, and updated provisions to reflect current infection control advice and industry practice.