The Public Health Act 2010 and Public Health Regulation 2012 regulates body decorating and grooming practices carried out by people who are not registered as health professionals. The regulated body decorating and grooming industries include:
- acupuncture
- beauty treatments
- body, nose and ear piercing
- cosmetic enhancements
- colonic lavage
- tattooing; and
- blood cholesterol and glucose measurement
Hairdressing and other body decorating and grooming practices which do not deliberately pierce the skin are not regulated under the Public Health Act 2010 or Public Health Regulation 2012, however these types of activities may be regulated under different legislation by your local council. Contact your local council for further information.
The regulation specifies procedures to prevent disease transmission, requires operators to be registered with the local council and empowers environmental health officers to carry out inspections.
The following public health legislation and resources (factsheets, posters, audit tool, and notification form) have been prepared to assist skin penetration practitioners and regulatory agencies protect public health. Information in these publications are correct at time of publishing.
Legislation
Chief Health Officers Advisory Note - Tattoo Ink Safety
CHO Advisory Note - Tattoo Ink Safety
Fact sheets
NSW Health Infection Control DVD
Infection Control DVD (Link to NSW Health YouTube site)
Brochures
Poster
Audit Tool
Skin Penetration Audit Tool
Notification form
Notification form to notify the local council of existence of premises where skin penetration is performed
