Regulations for cosmetic procedures: FOI release

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.


Information requested

1. What steps are being taken to regulate cosmetic procedures?

2. What has been done to follow up on the findings of the 2022 consultation on potential regulation (Non-surgical cosmetic procedures regulation: consultation analysis - final report - gov.scot ) to ensure all cosmetic treatments are carried out by appropriately trained professionals?

3. In 2021, it became illegal in England for a person under 18 to have fillers or Botox. Are there any plans to introduce minimum age restrictions in Scotland?

Response

The answer to questions 1 and 2 are as follows:

The Scottish Government remains committed to developing regulations for the non-surgical cosmetics sector. For this to be effective consideration needs to be given to what should be taken into account during development of such legislation, to get this regulation right. Since the findings from the 2020 consultation work has been ongoing in this area.

Scottish Government has been undertaking scoping work and engagement with key stakeholders for some time. Stakeholders include:

  • Healthcare professionals (including representatives from British College of Aesthetic Medicine and British Association of Cosmetic Nurses)
  • Hair and beauty industry representatives (including a leading insurer and the education sector)
  • Environmental Health Officers
  • Healthcare Improvement Scotland
  • Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register organisations, the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners and Save Face

The Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group (SCIEG) was reconvened in November 2023 and meets every 8 to 10 weeks to discuss and advise the Scottish Government on non-surgical cosmetic procedures and potential options to regulate the sector. Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women's Health has attended a recent SCIEG meeting and has had regular engagement with Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) regarding concerns they and their constituents have expressed on the need for further regulation.

Legislation allowing Healthcare Improvement Scotland to regulate a wider range of independent healthcare services commenced in June 2024. This includes non-surgical cosmetic procedures provided by independent pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (from premises, other than registered pharmacies and/or outwith the terms of NHS contracts).

In September, the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, announced that a further public consultation into the regulation of non‑surgical cosmetic procedures will be published by the end of this year. The consultation will build on the findings of the 2022 consultation. We will listen to consultees’ views, and this will help inform what robust and proportionate regulation is required.

The Minister also attended a roundtable discussion at the Scottish Parliament in June 2024 at which discussion with other MSPs and representatives from the Scottish Medical Aesthetic Safety Group focussed on what would be required to efficiently regulate the non-surgical cosmetic sector in Scotland, including the levels of training, qualifications, and supervision required to safely perform the various types of non‑surgical cosmetic procedures. She also addressed MSP’s concerns at a debate in the Scottish Parliament on 2 October.

In taking forward work on any potential new regulations, we are also seeking views, and are considering the impact regulations may have on existing businesses.

The answer to question 3 is:

The scoping work with stakeholders includes the consideration of age restrictions for the sector. This issue will be one of the areas we will consult on in the imminent consultation.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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