Tattooing, Piercing, Acupuncture & Electrolysis

If you are unable to use any documents or require alternative formats, please contact us on 0300 456 0107 or email at publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) for assistance.

Anyone who wishes to carry out any form of skin piercing, (ear piercing, electrolysis, acupuncture, semi-permanent skin colouring or tattooing), must be registered with Wiltshire Council. Both the premises and the person carrying out the piercing need to be registered separately.

Skin piercing

Application forms

Skin Piercing - Initial Premises Registration Application (Single Premises Only) (PDF) [62KB] (opens new window)

Skin piercing - Personal registration (PDF) [62KB] (opens new window)

Skin Piercing - Personal registration change of details (PDF) [69KB] (opens new window)

Skin piercing - Additional Activity Registration (PDF) [49KB] (opens new window)

Payment

You will be required to make full payment within 28 days of submission to Wiltshire Council of your Application. Your application will not be processed until full payment has been made. If you fail to make full payment within 28 days of submission your application will be rejected, and you will have to complete a new application.

Application fees are non-refundable. If you withdraw your application after payment, you will not be refunded. If you wish to change the trading location recorded on your application, you will have to submit a new application which will incur a new fee.

Registrations

Registered premises must display their registration certificate and relevant bylaws in a publicly viewable place within the premises.

Both a premises and a person are individually registered. The premises registration ensures that the treatment areas within a premises in which the practices are carried out are suitable and comply with the law. This means you can move rooms within a premises if they comply with the regulations.

A personal registration ensures that the person undertaking the activities is suitably trained and understands their legal obligations. A personal registration relates solely to the named person and premises stated on the application.

If a registered person wants to change their personal details,

• Name (you may be asked to provide proof of name change)
• Home address
• Primary registered trading address
• Additional Trading address (The trading address must already be registered)

They will need to complete a 'Personal registration change of details' form and where necessary an updated registration certificate will be issued; this will incur a fee.

The premises registration applies to the named premises only and cannot be transferred to other premises.

Registered practitioners are only permitted to operate from registered premises.

If a practitioner moves to an unregistered address, the new address must be registered before the practitioner can commence trading.

Inspections

Registered premises will be inspected following their initial registration and then every two years thereafter unless the inspection identifies areas of concern. Inspections may be unannounced.

Hand washbasins

The byelaws require, 'suitable and sufficient washing facilities appropriately located for the sole use of operators, including an adequate and constant supply of clean hot and cold water, soap or detergent'. This means a hand washbasin with a supply of hot and cold running water or mix thereof. The basin must have disposable paper towels and hand soap next to it. The basin must be located in the treatment area.

While in the past Wiltshire Council has allowed temporary hand washbasins in fixed premises, these are no longer permitted; basins must be properly plumbed in. The hand washbasin must only be used for hand washing.

This requirement does not apply to ear piercing due to the very low risk of infection resulting from this activity, but practitioners must still have access to a handwash basin.

Sinks

A separate sink will be required so that equipment and premises can be cleaned. There is a risk of contamination associated with dual use of sinks and hand wash basins and to keep the risk of infection as low as possible practitioners need to follow good infection, prevention and control practices at work by having a separate sink. The sink provided must be suitable for its intended purpose.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

There have been recent instances where pseudomonas aeruginosa have infected piercings, particularly upper ear piercings. These bacteria could also infect other skin piercing processes. Pseudomonas aeruginosa should not be present in mains water but your plumbing system can become contaminated where there is stagnant water (dead legs), and where biofilms and scale have built up. The risk of contaminating a water outlet increases when the sink/basin is used to discard dirty water or where there is splashback from dirty sinkholes.

For further advice, please see:  Pseudomonas Information Leaflet (Word doc) [25KB] (opens new window)

Tattooing

For those wishing to have a tattoo, visit Think it through before having a tattoo for advice.

Reporting 'Scratchers'

'Scratcher' is the term commonly used for illegal tattooists. 'Scratchers' are deemed to be operating illegally because they may be working from premises which are not registered or inspected by the council for safety and hygiene. They often tattoo in kitchens, bedrooms or other unsuitable environments.

They may use equipment which has been purchased from auction websites rather than a suitable trade supplier.

If you know anyone tattooing illegally, let us know using the Report an Illegal Tattooist form (PDF) [137KB] (opens new window)  and we will investigate. We take illegal tattooing very seriously. Where necessary we will stop illegal tattooing, sometimes with the assistance of the police, and anyone found to be breaking the law can face prosecution.

For any further information or concerns, please contact the Food and Safety Team at publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or telephone 01225 770411.