East Suffolk Council
Skin piercing businesses
The following practices must first be registered with the council:
- Tattooing
- Cosmetic-piercing (including ear-piercing)
- Electrolysis
- semi-permanent makeup (including make-up, micropigmentation, derma pigmentation, microblading, temporary tattooing, cosmetic tattooing) and
- Acupuncture (including dry needling)
If you are applying for a dry needling registration, please choose ‘acupuncture’ when completing the application for registration as this is what will appear on your registration certificate.
Micro-needling, Botox, dermaplaning and dermal fillers are currently regulated by the General Medical Council, and not registered with the council. For more information visit: A doctor’s guide to GMC Online - GMC (gmc-uk.org)
Registration of skin piercing is required for both the person carrying out the activity and the premises used for that purpose unless being carried out by a registered medical practitioner such as a doctor. There is similar exemption for dentists in respect of acupuncture.
Any person carrying out any of these activities without being registered may be prosecuted.
What you will need to register
Applicants must supply the council with the following information
- Specific details of the premises they will be working from
- how the practices will be carried out hygienically and safely
- any previous convictions for practicing without a licence in this field
- public liability insurance certificate
- relevant qualifications (for microblading, National Standard Level 4 is required)
- proof of membership of relevant trade organisation (if applicable)
How to register
A one-off registration fee is payable for personal registrations in the East Suffolk Council area and a separate one-off fee is payable for the business premises so if you are starting a business you will need to pay both fees.
Premises registrations are only applicable to the address used at the time of registration. If the business moves, the new premises will require registration.
If you wish to add treatments or change the details on your registration certificate a separate fee will be payable from 1 April 2023.
Registration fees
The current registration fees from 1 April 2025 are:
| Registration of premises | Fee |
|---|---|
| Tattooing, micropigmentation/semi-permanent makeup, cosmetic-piercing (including ear-piercing), electrolysis, and acupuncture | £307 |
| Registration of person/practitioner | Fee |
| Tattooing, micropigmentation/semi-permanent makeup, cosmetic-piercing (including ear-piercing), electrolysis, and acupuncture | £180 |
| Add a skin piercing activity to an existing registration | £95 |
| Replacement or duplicate registration certificate or change of a person's name (electronic and/or paper) | £32 (Please note that VAT is chargeable for replacement/duplicate certificates. This has been included in the specified fee) |
| Online skin piercing business registration forms |
Once an application has been registered, East Suffolk Council undertakes an inspection of the premises to check
- compliance with the Councils byelaws
- practitioners and premises are safe and hygienic
- controls are in place to prevent the risk of blood-borne infections
- that general health and safety requirements are being met
Will tacit consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest for reasons of public health that the authority must process your application before it can be granted (completion period 28 days). If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us in the first instance or you may do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service.
Licence holder redress
Please contact us in the first instance. If a registration is suspended or cancelled, the registration holder may appeal to the county court.
Regulation summary
- Skin piercing byelaws
- Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Part VIII
- Local Government Act 2003 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk)
East Suffolk Council byelaws
These byelaws set hygiene standards relevant to cleanliness and hygiene of premises, practitioners, and equipment. The byelaws must be adhered to. Failure to meet the byelaws may result in enforcement action being taken by the council. Whilst there are no powers to refuse registration, a court may suspend or cancel the registration of a person who is found guilty of contravening a relevant byelaw.
Other legislation
Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969 (legislation.gov.uk)
It is an offence to tattoo any person under the age of 18 years regardless of parental consent. This is a Police matter and must be reported to them.
A person under the age of 18 years may receive body piercing provided they have received written permission from, or the treatment is performed in the presence of, the person's parent or guardian.
Nipple and genital piercing are both prohibited on minors, regardless of parental consent.
Practitioners who wish to undertake these procedures will need to register with the General Medical Council. The Act makes it illegal to provide either procedure to under-18s for cosmetic reasons.
Consumer complaints
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, you can find out about consumer rights on the .GOV.UK website.
From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Trade associations
- British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology
- British Institute and Association of Electrolysis
- Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists
- Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union – The official home of the TPIU on the internet
Additional information
Skin piercing guidance on infection control in the workplace
Our skin piercing guidelines provide additional information on how to meet best practice for hygiene and safety. It is recommended that all applicants read through this guidance before submitting their application.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) convened a multi-agency working group to develop guidance following concerns raised by tattoo and body piercing practitioners, as well as health protection and environmental health specialists, about the lack of robust and consistent guidance on standards of hygiene and safety in the industry. The group comprised representatives from the CIEH, the Health and Safety Laboratory, Public Health England, the Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union and individuals with practical experience of working in this area.
- Tattooing and body piercing guidance toolkit
- Review of cosmetic treatments regulated by Local Authorities
The Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive provide specific information in respect to tattooing, ear and body piercing.