Tattooists in Carmarthenshire

NEW standards have been introduced for tattooists in Carmarthenshire to improve hygiene and prevent the spread of infections.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Environmental Health Department has introduced model byelaw standards to regulate tattooing, cosmetic piercing (body and ear piercing), semi permanent tattooing (or micro-pigmentation), electrolysis and acupuncture.

The council has developed a registration scheme for registering both the premises where the treatments are undertaken and the persons undertaking the procedure, who are provided with a photo ID card.

The aim of the byelaws and registration scheme is to ensure that strict hygiene standards and good practice are met and to prevent the spread of blood borne infections such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

The registration for any of the listed treatments is a legal requirement in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Public Health Services Manager Sue Watts said: “The advice from the Environmental Health Department for anybody who wants to have a tattoo or piercing, including a basic lobe ear piercing, is ensure it is undertaken by a competent, registered, operator.

“If in doubt ask for the persons photo ID card and premises certificate or speak to the Environmental Health Department to check if a person is registered.”

Any persons who are undertaking any of the listed treatments who are not currently registered are encouraged to get in touch with the Environmental Health Department on (01267) 234567 for advice on registration and requirements.

The council’s executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The authority has powers to prosecute illegal operators who present both an infection risk to the public and give the registered trade a bad name.

“In the case of a tattoo, this is permanent and if performed poorly it can become infected or result in disfigurement.

“Unfortunately some irresponsible individuals are purchasing cheap, poor quality tattooing kits from the internet and are tattooing people (often in their own homes via advertising on internet social network sites) without any competency or regard to hygiene, sterilisation of equipment, or any underlying health conditions a person may have, which can present a great risk to a person`s health.”