Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

15 Tattooing, ear-piercing and electrolysis

(1) A person shall not in any area in which this section is in force carry on the business—

(a) of tattooing;

(b) of ear-piercing ; or

(c) of electrolysis,

unless he is registered by the local authority for the area under this section.

(2) A person shall only carry on a business mentioned in subsection (1) above in any area in which this section is in force in premises registered under this section for the carrying on of that business ; but a person who carries on the business of tattooing, ear-piercing or electrolysis and is registered under this section as carrying on that business does not contravene this subsection merely because he sometimes visits people at their request to tattoo them or, as the case may be, to pierce their ears or give them electrolysis.

(3) Subject to section 16 (8) (b) below, on application for registration under this section a local authority shall register the applicant and the premises where he desires to carry on his business and shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration.

(4) An application for registration under this section shall be accompanied by such particulars as the local authority may reasonably require.

(5) The particulars that the local authority may require include, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above.—

(a) particulars as to the premises where the applicant desires to carry on his business; and

(b) particulars of any conviction of the applicant under section 16 below,

but do not include information about individual people whom the applicant has tattooed or given electrolysis or whose ears he has pierced.

(6) A local authority may charge such reasonable fees as they may determine for registration under this section.

(7) A local authority may make byelaws for the purposes of securing—

(a) the cleanliness of premises registered under this section and fittings in such premises ;

(b) the cleanliness of persons so registered and persons assisting persons so registered in the business in respect of which they are registered ;

(c) 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 under this section.

(8) Nothing in this section shall extend to the carrying on of a business such as is mentioned in subsection (1) above by or under the supervision of a person who is registered as a medical practitioner or to premises on which any such business is carried on by or under the supervision of such a person.