Tough new laws on piercing hygiene

Tough new laws in an area of the Black Country are being introduced to monitor hygiene standards of body piercers as the trend soars in popularity.

Outdated laws brought in decades ago to keep tattoo artists and piercers in check are set to be replaced and updated in Wolverhampton. All tattoo parlours and salons offering body piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis could be made to sign up to a register and receive regular checks to monitor cleanliness and standards under the new council plans.

Council chiefs said old laws, which were created back in the 1960s, only covered ear piercing and not body piercing which has become popular since they came into force.

Julia Corrigan, a city council spokeswoman, said today: "There are existing by-laws which have been in place for many years.

"To reflect the increasing popularity of body piercing, which was not included when the existing bylaws were formulated, the Government is now giving local authorities the chance to update them, which Wolverhampton has chosen to do."

"Back when the original laws came in most people only had their ears pierced, and so now it is appropriate to change them to reflect the changes in society and the extent that cosmetic piercing has become so popular."

Miss Corrigan said that all tattoo parlours and places which offer body piercing would have to register to make sure everything is being done correctly under the new bylaws.

"The old ones do not cover the extent and range of piercings which are popular nowadays," she added.

"It is all about protecting people's health and making sure businesses like this are operating to the highest standard and in the most hygienic way," she said.

Plans to introduce the new by-laws are now on display at Wolverhampton City Council's environmental services reception, in the Civic Centre. Anybody with objections should write to Mr G Robb, Department of Health, Room 531 Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG before Saturday August 2.