LICENSING IN AESTHETICS IS ONE STEP CLOSER

Government plans to license the aesthetics industry are one step closer today after The House of Lords Report Stage debate of the legislation last night.

No changes are expected to be made to the plan to bring in a nationwide scheme that will require all aesthetic practitioners to have a license for non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers.

It’s all part of an amendment to the Health and Care Bill and last night those amendments were passed in the House of Lords to give the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care the power to introduce a licensing regime for Botox and fillers, the scope and details of which will be determined via extensive engagement including a public consultation – so it will still take a while to come into force.

Supporting this change, Lord Kamall said: “This will support the introduction of consistent standards that individuals carrying out such cosmetic procedures will have to meet, as well as hygiene and safety standards for premises.

“The subsequent regulations will set out in detail the treatments to be covered by the licensing system, and the detailed conditions and training requirements individuals would have to meet. The purpose of this amendment is not to ban procedures or stifle innovation, but rather to ensure that consumers who choose to undergo a cosmetic procedure can be confident that the treatment they receive is safe and of a high standard. The Government will work with stakeholders, including noble Lords, to put in place a licensing regime that works for both consumers and providers, protecting those who choose to receive cosmetic procedures without placing unnecessary restrictions on legitimate businesses.”

He went on to say that the process of creating the licensing is complicated because there are so many procedures to cover and that the whole industry needs to have its say.
He said: “The range of non-surgical cosmetic procedures available to consumers is vast. Therefore, drawing up the regulations will require detailed consultation with a range of stakeholders. This will include a number of partners, such as the cosmetics industry and local authorities. We will try to do this as quickly as possible, while ensuring that the list is as comprehensive as possible. We will try to get that balance.”
The move has been welcomed by many including Maxine McCarthy, CEO of the award-winning training academy Cosmetic Couture. Maxine said today that safeguards need to be included to ensure professional non-medic practitioners can continue to operate.
She said: “What must happen is that the new licensing scheme takes into account the abilities and professionalism of most non-medics in the industry. While I welcome all changes which help improve public safety, as Lord Kamell said in The Lords, we need to make sure the changes don’t place unnecessary restrictions on legitimate businesses. Any new scheme needs to give non-medics with proven skills and exceptional health and safety protocols access and be able to continue practicing as the majority have safely for many years.”
“It’s good news but I know lots of people will panic and think this will stop them doing their job – it absolutely shouldn’t.
“This can be a very positive step and I’ve been campaigning for this for many years. It’s about time they regulated an industry that is like the Wild West and those of us who work professionally should all welcome this and contribute to the debate about how the licensing scheme works.
“I would say it should be like a passport system with lots of tick boxes so that you can prove you have all the required policies and procedures, are a competent injector, have a prescriber and clinical oversight – and all the things we already do to help ensure public safety.
“Only the cowboys should have anything to be scared of.”

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