Issue - meetings

To receive and consider a report outlining details of the adoption of bylaws for dermal treatments.

The Committee received the Adoption of Bylaws for Dermal Treatments report which was set out in agenda pages 23-32.

Amanda Ward, Principal Officer, Licensing explained that it was necessary to adopt bylaws in order to regulate: cosmetic piercing; semi-permanent skin colouring; acupuncture, tattooing, electrolysis and ear piercing.

Amanda stated that it was important that this industry was effectively regulated due to the risks associated with the treatments being offered.  There was the potential risk of transmission of blood borne viruses (BBV) for example HIV, Hepatitis B and C, as well as other infections, potential physical damage and bleeding if the treatment was completed incorrectly.

Councillor Ferris stated that he had undertaken some research and found that some local authorities had adopted a separate bylaw for acupuncture.  He was of the opinion that acupuncture should be regulated by its own bylaw as it was a medical procedure and not a cosmetic treatment.  He felt that the proposal was confusing in its description.  Other councillors were of the same opinion.

Julia informed that under the current legislation medical professionals did not need to apply for a licence in order to practice acupuncture.  She believed that it was better to consolidate acupuncture with the other dermal procedures under one bylaw.

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

·           Councillor Hobbs believed that it would be more coherent to have acupuncture under a separate bylaw;

·           Councillor Richards believed that acupuncture was significantly different from other dermal treatments and should be separated;

·           Councillor Ferris asked Officers to provide more background information to enable the Committee to make an informed decision;

·           Councillor Loyes asked about the cost implications.  Julia stated that this service was cost recoverable and agreed to include the costs to any future reports;

·           Julia believed that other local authorities that had separate bylaws for acupuncture had probably used old legislation;

·           Julia pointed out that there was a cost implication in submitting two bylaws.

After much debate the Committee was not able to reach a decision on a recommendation for Council.  Therefore, the Committee asked that Officers produced a report containing two alternatives to be considered at Council:

1)     Option 1 – the adoption of one bylaw regulating all dermal treatments, including acupuncture;

2)     Option 2 – the adoption of two bylaws, once for acupuncture and one for all the other dermal treatments.

The Committee requested that more background information and costs be included in the report to Council.

RESOLVED That a report containing the two options listed above will be submitted to Council.

Subsequently, in consultation with the Chairman, Officers and the Committee, it was agreed that this report should come back to the September meeting for further analysis and agreement on a recommendation, prior to its submission to Council.