After a Parliamentary debate, the Scottish Government has confirmed that regulation of the aesthetics sector will be implemented by April 2026.
In the session, the Government also committed to completing a consultation for new aesthetic regulation and publish a report on the findings by this Christmas. The report will cover the issue of non-medics providing treatments without regulation, and the proposition of a minimum age to receive aesthetic procedures in Scotland.
Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, motioned the debate, and afterwards commented, “I was pleased to secure this Member’s Debate as the growing popularity of medical aesthetic procedures comes a growing need to properly regulate their provision. This was first raised with me in 2018, so while it’s been a long time coming, it’s welcome that the Scottish Government is recognising this. The public consultation which is due to be published before the end of this year is a very important step in the right direction, ensuring that any regulation is as effective as possible, with a focus on fairness and patient safety.”
Hamish Dobbie, manging director at DRVICTORIA Skin Clinic in Edinburgh and attendee of the debate, continued, “It was heartening to see the commitment from Jenni Minto [the Scottish Minister for Public Health] that her Government would implement new legislation in the parliamentary session to correct the issue of lay people providing aesthetic treatments without regulation. I felt the bipartisan support displayed in Parliament’s Chamber and the recognition of the need for urgent action were particularly promising.”
More details of the upcoming Scottish consultation are expected soon. The Aesthetics Journal will report on this ongoing story as more details emerge.
