The Institute of Licensing has published its response to the Welsh Government's consultation on Special Procedures Consultation.

This consultation sought the views of stakeholders and the public on proposals to enact Part 4 and Schedule 3 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 (“the Act”) which sets out the requirements for a mandatory licensing scheme for practitioners of special procedures in Wales. Special procedures are defined in the Act as: acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis, and tattooing.

There is a power in the Act to add or remove a special procedure to or from the above list, but the Welsh Government have confirmed that although they will be commencing this power as part of the implementation of Part 4, they will not be consulting on additional special procedures at this point.

Under the proposed licensing scheme, which will be operated by local authorities in Wales, special procedures practitioners will need to be licensed to perform special procedures, unless they are exempt. In addition, premises/vehicles where the licensed practitioner operates will also require approval.

Under the proposed licensing scheme, it will be an offence for any practitioner (unless exempt) to carry out a special procedure without a licence and for any licensed practitioner to perform any special procedures from premises or vehicles that have not been approved.