The UK Government has confirmed its commitment to introducing a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, according to the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP).
The Government is expected to outline its timetable for the implementation of the new scheme in the coming weeks as part of its response to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Inquiry Report on body image.
Maria Caulfield, Parliamentary under-secretary of state for mental health and women’s health strategy, stated “departmental officials will work as quickly as possible to introduce the licensing scheme and will consider all the important areas.” She continued, “We know this is a fast-moving sector, and officials will consider how best to future-proof the regulations so that new and emerging treatments are captured by the scheme.”
The update follows the Government’s initial commitment to implementing the scheme in March 2022. As well as introducing licensing guidelines, the scheme will require medical aesthetic practitioners to hold correct insurance, conduct adequate training and report adverse events.
Professor David Sines, chair of the JCCP, commented, “We very much look forward to continuing our engagement with the Government and healthcare regulators during the forthcoming months to realise the key objective of embedding patient safety and public protection for members of the public who elect to engage with non-surgical procedures within the context of national enforceable legislation.”
