Skin Piercing Activities

Once you have made an application and paid the relevant fee(s), an inspector will arrange to visit. The inspection is to ensure there are appropriate hygiene procedures, health and safety regulations are being complied with and ensure the operator is qualified and competent.

If the inspector considers procedures and premises are suitable, your registration will be approved.

We can offer advice and help if you are unsure about your obligations.

• Premises - £216
• Operatives for Acupuncture / Ear Piercing with piercing 'gun' - £200
• Operative for any other listed treatment inc piercing with a needle - £216
• Variations of premises /operator registration - £82
• Administrative variation only - £25

Examples of a variation:

• You have trained in another skin piercing practice so wish to add a new treatment to your registration
• You have carried out alterations to the registered premises and a new inspection is required.

Your operator registration allows you to work in any registered premises within Hertsmere.

If you move premises you must ensure the new premises is registered for your chosen treatments. A premises registration can not be transferred.

Please complete the application form at the end of this page. Once completed it can be emailed to: environmental.health@hertsmere.gov.uk (opens in new tab) and once reviewed you will be emailed a link to make the required payments.

To request for a variation of a registration or a name change you can send your request to Environmental Health and the inspecting officer will be in touch.

Applicants must comply with Hertsmere Borough Council bye-laws made under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and the amendments under The Local Government Act 2003.

You will also need to have a regard to:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (opens in new tab)
• Chartered Institute of Environment Health (CIEH) Tattooing and Body Piercing Toolkit (opens in new tab)
• Gov.UK Guidance on Pseudomonas aeruginosa perichondritis associated with ear piercings (opens in new tab)
• COSHH essentials for service and retail - Electrolysis, piercing, tattooing and micropigmentation (opens in new tab)
• Health and Safety Executive Blood borne viruses in the workplace (opens in new tab)

If you are looking at having one of the treatments mentioned, don't be tempted into a cheaper rate offered by unregistered operators. Check you are going to a premises which is registered, and the treatment is being carried out by a registered operator, it is simply not worth the risk.

All inspected premises and operators will receive a certificate of registration from the Local Authority. If these are not visibly displayed request to see it. Or you can contact Environmental Health to ensure they are registered.

If you have any concerns about a registered premises/operator or if you believe someone is practicing without registration you can contact Environmental Health (opens in new tab) .