This scheme will require practitioners who performs any special procedure (see below) on someone else in Wales to be licensed (this licence is referred to as a ‘Special Procedures Licence’) and premises/vehicles from which special procedures practitioners operate from will need to be approved (known as an ‘Approved Premises Certificate’). The scheme will also have mandatory requirements/conditions within the Regulations for practitioners and premises/vehicles.
The current legal requirements regarding registration and bylaws for acupuncture, bodypiercing, electrolysis and tattooing will remain in place, until the new licensing scheme comes into force. New registrations under the existing registration scheme must still be made to operate legally before the new scheme comes into operation.
Special procedures covered by the new licensing scheme
The new scheme only applies to special procedures, which is defined in Section 57 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, and includes:
- Acupuncture
- Body piercing
- Electrolysis
- Tattooing (including semi-permanent make up / microblading)
Timescales
The Regulations are expected to be laid before the Senedd/Welsh Assembly on the 17th September 2024. These will then be finalised and will enter the formal Senedd legislative process. The coming into force date is expected to be October-November 2024 (the exact date is subject to the outcome and decision-making process of the Senedd).
Other information
Detailed information for practitioners and premises/vehicles are contained in the ‘in this section’ part on the top right hand side of this page.
Contact us
For any other enquires regarding the special procedures licensing scheme, please email foodsafety-healthandsafety@conwy.gov.uk