CIEH welcomes consultation on new licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has warmly welcomed the launch of a UK Government consultation on a new England-wide licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The consultation follows the passing in April 2022 of the Health and Care Act, which gave the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care the power to introduce such a licensing regime.

The new scheme will involve a practitioner licence and a premises licence and will make it an offence for anybody to carry out non-surgical cosmetic treatments without a licence. It will also make it illegal to treat anyone under the age of 18 with such treatments.

The scheme seeks to ensure that people who administer cosmetic procedures are properly experienced, trained and qualified, have the necessary insurance cover and operate from premises that are clean, hygienic and suitably licensed.

The scheme will be administered by local authorities across England.

Louise Hosking, Executive Director of Environmental Health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We are delighted to see the launch of this consultation on the new licensing scheme for non-surgical aesthetics in England.

This is an area on which we and our partners have campaigned tirelessly, culminating in the amendment to the Health and Care Act allowing the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to introduce such a scheme.

Earlier this year, in response to a joint letter that we submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care alongside the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners and the British Beauty Council, we were pleased to receive assurance from the Government of its commitment to introducing the scheme.

We now look forward to responding to the consultation and will continue working in partnership with key organisations to influence the shape and nature of the scheme.

Creating better regulation of this industry is vital if we are to ensure consumer safety and create a genuine level playing field for practitioners.”