Acupuncture, Tattooist, Skin Piercing and Electrolysis Registration

You must register with the Council to carry out:

• tattooing

• semi-permanent skin colouring *

• cosmetic piercing **

• electrolysis

• acupuncture

This is covered under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Cornwall Council has also adopted skin piercing byelaws. These byelaws regulate the provision of skin piercing activities.

* Semi-permanent skin-colouring includes semi-permanent make-up, micropigmentation, dermapigmentation, microblading, temporary tattooing, cosmetic tattooing etc.

** Cosmetic piercing includes ear piercing and body piercing.

List of unregulated treatments

Only the treatments that fall under the definitions of those listed in the:

• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or

• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) NI Order 1985

can be registered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The following treatments fall outside of this legislation.  They are therefore not currently regulated by most local authorities:

• Botulinum toxins

• Laser tattoo removal

• Scarification

• Branding

• Laser, LED and IPL skin treatments

• Skin peels

• Cavitation

• Mesotherapy

• Spas

• Cupping

• Micro dermabrasion

• Tanning beds *’**

• Dermaplaning

• Microneedling

• Thermage

• Dermarolling

• Nail bars

• Ultrasound

• Fillers

• PDO threads and cogs

• Infrared

• Plasma Lift

* Age restricted legislation does apply.

** In Wales, all tanning salons have to be supervised and display Information about health effects.

Registration

The aim of registering skin piercing activities is to protect members of the public from the transmission of blood borne viruses such as:

• HIV

• Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis C

• and other infections.

The council has approved byelaws that set out the standards for the hygienic operation of skin piercing premises. Persons carrying out skin piercing must comply with these byelaws.

Registration consists of two elements:

• the person

• and the place where the skin piercing takes place.

A separate fee is required for registration of the person and of the premises. This is a one-off payment as there is no annual renewal process. 

Please note, it is not possible to transfer a premises registration from one premises to another. If your business moves to another location, you will need to make application to register the new location and pay the registration fee.

Events (Charitable Events, Conventions, Shows, and One-Off Events)

Before hosting an event involving skin piercing activities, you must ensure:

• The premises where the event will take place is registered. *

• All practitioners carrying out skin piercing procedures hold valid personal registrations for the specific activities they carry out.

• Out of county artists require a temporary licence. **

* Please refer to the Application and Fees section for further details.
** Please refer to Fees section for further details.

If you plan to offer;

• Acupuncture

• Tattooing

• Cosmetic Piercing

• Electrolysis 

at an event, the following registrations are required:

1. Event Premises Registration

   • A one-time registration with no annual renewal, provided the structure of the venue and organisers remain the same.

   • For large venues hosting more than one event per year, each event must have its own premises event registration. This includes venues such as showgrounds or event centres.

2. Event Practitioners – Temporary Personal Registration

   • Practitioners registered with another Local Authority: Temporary registration required (reduced fee).

   • Practitioners already registered with Cornwall Council: Temporary registration required (no fee).

There is no prescribed application form for temporary personal registration. It is the responsibility of the event organiser to submit to Cornwall Council a completed Skin Piercing Event Application, copies of all relevant Practitioner Licences, and the applicable fees no later than 10 working days before the event.

Applications received after this deadline may not be processed before the event. Where submissions are received outside the prescribed timescale, the Council cannot guarantee the issue of the necessary registrations. Any person carrying out a registrable activity without the appropriate registration may be subject to enforcement action.

Applications

Applications for Skin Piercing are not determined until an inspection of the premises has been undertaken. You must wait until the application has been determined before doing any of the activities listed at the top of this page.

The easiest way to apply is by downloading our form below:

• Skin Piercing Application (Premises and Personal)

• Skin Piercing Application (Event)

Alternatively you can apply via the GOV.UK website by following the button below.

Apply for a skin piercing registration

Please contact businesscompliance@cornwall.gov.uk to discuss:

• an application,

• decision

• or consent.

Update a current application

If you currently have a personal or premise registration with us, you will need to inform us of any of the below changes;

• change of name for person or business

• add an additional premises or change of business location for a personal registration

• change of home address of individual

If your business location has changed, a new premises registration may be required.

If you are the business owner and are taking on a new premise, you will need to submit a premise registration. This is in addition to updates of personal registrations for anyone intending to work from the new location.

If you are transferring from one registered location to another and will be trading under the current registered business, an update to your personal registration would be required.

If you are unsure which applications or updates are needed or would like to check if we hold a registration for a premise, please contact us at: businesscompliance@cornwall.gov.uk.

Fees

Fees and charges for acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing and electrolysis (skin piercing) licences. 

**Outside the scope of VAT

If updating your current registration or applying via the downloadable form, please use the below link to make payment.

Pay your application fee

Public Register

Please contact businesscompliance@cornwall.gov.uk to discuss your requirements.

Consumer Complaints

If you wish to;

• make a complaint about someone carrying out any of the activities listed on this page

• suspect someone is carrying out unregistered activities

Please contact us at businesscompliance@cornwall.gov.uk.

Useful links

• Tattooing and Body Piercing Guidance (CIEH)

• British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC)

• British Institute and Association of Electrolysis

• Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists

• Business Regulatory Support Services