Tattooing/Semi Permanent Tattooing, Ear/Body Piercing, Electrolysis and Acupuncture

You must register yourself and your premises with us if you want to offer the services of tattooing, semi-permanent tattooing, ear or body piercing, electrolysis or acupuncture

It is illegal for anyone to undertake acupuncture, tattooing, ear and body piercing, and electrolysis at any premises without an approved registration from the Council.

The applicant must operate in accordance with Fenland District Council's byelaws which surround maintaining hygienic practices within the registered premises. Applicants must ensure their health and safety procedures cover adequate sterilisation of equipment and facilities used at their premises.

How to register you, your staff and your premises for tattooing, piercing, electrolysis or acupuncture

You need to complete your registration online. You will also need to pay a one-off initial registration fee of £188.

After you've applied, an inspector from our Environmental Health team will visit your premises. They will check your compliance with our bylaws and health and safety requirements. You will also:

be asked about your experience in the service you are registering for
need to show that you have a needle pick up service at your proposed premises
be asked to provide a head and shoulders picture of yourself and all staff carrying out services at your premises. These will be placed onto your certificate of registration

The inspector will approve your registration and issue a licence when they are satisfied with your premises, procedures and paperwork.

Vary a licence

Vary an existing tattooing, piercing, electrolysis or acupuncture licence

It costs £53.00 to vary a registration. Staff joining a registered premises is a variation so an application must be made.

If you want to remove staff from a current registration, please email envhealth@fenland.gov.uk with the details. There is no charge for this.

Byelaw requirements

Premises	All surfaces in any part of the premises used by clients must be kept clean and in good repair All furniture and fittings in the treatment area must be kept clean and in good repair Tables, couches, seats etc used in the treatment area must have a smooth, impervious surface. This must be regularly wiped down with disinfectant and covered by a disposable paper sheet, which is changed after each client A 'No Smoking' sign must be prominently displayed.
Cleanliness of operatives	Any overall worn by the operative should be clean and in good repair The operative's hands and nails must be kept clean Any open cut, wound, sore or boil must be suitably covered by an impermeable dressing The operative should not smoke or drink in the treatment area The operative should have sole use of the water facilities. This must have running water (hot and cold) and soap (or similar cleanser).
Equipment	Any needle, metal instrument or other item of equipment used in the treatment must be in a sterile condition and kept sterile until it is used If pre-sterile items are not used, adequate facilities must be provided for the purpose of sterilisation If tattooing is being undertaken, all dyes used must be bacteriologically clean and inert. The containers used to hold dyes for each customer must be disposed of at the end of each treatment or sterilised before re-use.

The health of the client and suitability of the treatment should be discussed prior to admission.

Persons under 18 years

Persons under 18 years old:

Can receive a body piercing but only if they have written permission from their parent/guardian, or if their parent/guardian is there during the treatment
Cannot get a tattoo. It is an offence to tattoo anybody under the age of 18 years, regardless of parental consent.
Cannot get a nipple or genital piercing, regardless of parental consent.

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Tattooing/Semi Permanent Tattooing, Ear/Body Piercing, Electrolysis and Acupuncture

How to register you, your staff and your premises for tattooing, piercing, electrolysis or acupuncture

Vary a licence

Byelaw requirements

Persons under 18 years