Petition Review Wales’ Special Procedures Licensing Scheme to protect livelihoods and public safety.
Wales’ new licensing scheme is creating barriers for self-employed acupuncturists, tattooists, SPMU/microblading, electrolysis and piercing practitioners who rent treatment rooms. Host businesses may face premises approval costs, training and regulatory responsibility despite not performing the procedure. This can leave qualified practitioners without suitable workplaces, particularly in rural Wales. We support strong infection control but want a more proportionate system.
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We support strong infection-control standards, but the current scheme can prevent practitioners accessing suitable workplaces. We ask Welsh Government to introduce a designated treatment-room model so licensed practitioners can take responsibility for a compliant room within another business, while inspection, handwashing, cleanable surfaces, sharps and waste controls remain mandatory.
A proportionate pathway is also needed for temporary/community locations, with Recognition of Prior Learning where existing infection-control training meets the standard.
Mobile acupuncture raises a clear inconsistency: practitioners may risk-assess unfamiliar homes, yet be unable to use a dedicated clinical room because the host business will not take on premises licensing.
The economic impact on self-employment, rural services, room-rental businesses and welfare costs should be reviewed.
England is developing licensing for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, so lessons from Wales matter UK-wide.
At 250 signatures...
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At 10,000 signatures...
Petitions with more than 10,000 signatures will be considered for a debate in the Senedd