Tattooing, Body Piercing, Ear Piercing, Acupuncture and Electrolysis treatment are all regulated by law.  The Tattooing, Piercing, Acupuncture and Electrolysis (Guernsey and Alderney) Law 2000 require that any premises where such treatments are carried out and any persons carrying out the treatments are registered with the Health and Social Services Department.  The registers are public documents and may be inspected at the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation.  Copies of the law can be downloaded from the downloads section on the right.

The law also makes it a criminal offence to carry out tattooing or body piercing on anyone under the age of 18.

Regulations made under the law require the premises to be clean and safe, any equipment used must be either be single use or appropriately cleaned or sterilised, measures are in place to avoid the passing on of infection, proper information and advice is given to people having any treatment and proper records are kept.  Copies of the Regulations are available from the downloads section on the right.

Applicants must pay a prescribed fee when making an application for registration.  Fees are subject to regulation (see downloads on right) and are currently £100 to apply for a premises and £50 per person.  Copies of the appropriate application forms are available from the downloads section.

The law exempts from registration any registered medical practitioners and dentists who carry out skin treatments on their premises in the normal course of treatment.

If you need any further advice regarding any aspect of skin piercing treatments please contact the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation.