Who needs a Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services Licence?

The Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 states 'A person must not carry on business providing higher risk personal appearance services unless the person holds a licence authorising the person to carry on the business'.

It is an offence under the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 for a person to carry on business providing higher risk personal appearance services unless the person holds a licence authorising the person to carry on the business. A licensee must not provide higher risk personal appearance services from premises unless the premises are stated on the licensee's licence.

A higher risk personal appearance service involves any of the following skin penetration procedures, in which the release of blood or other body fluids is an expected result:

  • Body piercing, other than closed ear or nose piercing
  • Implanting natural or synthetic substances into a person's skin (eg. hair or beads)
  • Scarring or cutting a person's skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark, pattern or design
  • Tattooing (including cosmetic tattooing or semipermanent makeup)
  • Any other skin penetration prescribed under a regulation

Who does not require a Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services Licence?

Premises that provide non higher risk personal appearance services do not require a licence. Even though these premises do not require a licence, the businesses still must comply with the Infection Control Guidelines and ensure all reasonable precautions and care to minimise the risk of infection to clients is undertaken.

Businesses not requiring a licence include:

  • Hairdressers
  • Beauty therapists providing facial or body treatments (including the application of cosmetics, manicures, pedicures, application of, or mending artificial nails and hair removal by electrolysis or wax)
  • Skin penetration procedures that are not high risk services (eg. closed ear or nose piercing)
  • Acupuncture services

 

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