Skin Penetration
The Public Health Act 2010 and Public Health Regulation 2012 regulates body decorating and grooming practices, which penetrate the skin, and are carried out by people who are not registered as health professionals. The regulation specifies procedures to prevent disease transmission, requires operators to be registered with their local council and empowers environmental health officers to carry out inspections.
The regulated body decorating and grooming industries include:
- Acupuncture
- Beauty treatments
- Body, nose and ear piercing
- Cosmetic enhancements
- Colonic lavage
- Tattooing
- Blood cholesterol and glucose measurement
Hairdressing and other body decorating and grooming practices, which do not deliberately pierce the skin are not regulated.
Yass Valley Council's Environmental Health Officers conduct annual inspections of skin penetration premises which ensure that procedures that penetrate the skin are undertaken in a safe and hygienic manner.
If you own or plan to start a business that involves skin penetration then you are required to notify Council. This can be done by completing Form 20 - Application for Skin Penetration Activity and submitting it to Council. This application comes with a prescribed fee that is listed in the annual fees and charges. Once Council has been notified, an inspection will be arranged to ensure that the premises are suitable for the activities taking place and complies with the relevant legislation.
More information about the requirements for the beauty and skin penetration industry can be found on the NSW Health website.