Starting February 2019, people selling body art services will need a permit.
The province announced the Safe Body Art Art.
Standards for infection prevention and records management will ensure safe practices and products are used when people get piercings or tattoos.
After February 1 of next year, it’s law that all body artists have a permit.
Karen Wong-Petrie, Director of Environmental Health and Food Safety, says public health officers will look for sterilization procedures, general facility construction and infection control practices of the artist.
She says it’s a public health issue.
“And by providing a permitting structure for it, it’s allowing us to address infection-control issues so that these services can be provided safely.”
Class 1 permits are available and renewable every 10 years.
A class 2, non-renewable permit is also available for facilities at temporary events, like tattoo festivals.
Wong-Petrie says putting a regulatory structure in place can prevent a number diseases like Hepatitis B and C, or general skin infections that can come from unsterilized needles used for piercings or tattoos.
She says they’re working with the industry to make sure they’re ready for the regulation to come into force.
“A lot of them have had direct input, actually, into the content of the regulations and the standards, so we’ll continue that process,” she says.
“They will be submitting infection-control plans, and applications for a permit.”
The Department of Health and Wellness is responsible for the act and regulations.
The Department of Environment is responsible for enforcement.
The act and regulations will take place February 1st, 2019.
