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Tattoo Laws Australia
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Australia
Legal Basis: In Australia, tattooing and piercing have been handled through local laws and by local jurisdictions. A comprehensive review* was made and in 1962, Victoria became the first Australian state to introduce a legislation to regulate hygiene and infection control in tattooing premises (Victorian Govt. 1962a; 1962b) and, since then, most Australian standards for infection control in tattooing have first appeared in regulations or standards in Victoria. In 1977, the original legislation was replaced by the Health (Skin Penetration) Regulations which improved standards for infection control in a range of skin penetration practices, including tattooing. In 1990, Victoria moved away from the largely prescriptive approach of the Health (Skin Penetration) Regulations 1977 and introduced the Standards of Practice for Tattooing and Body Piercing Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1990.
The current standards for infection control in tattooing in Victoria are the:
- Health (Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (.pdf)
- Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001 (.pdf)
- Standards of Practice for Tattooing and Body Piercing Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1990
Definitions: The 1990 Standards of Practice for Tattooing and Body Piercing, in Victoria, cover also permanent make up. Therein, cosmetic tattooing is referred to as pigment implants, semi permanent creations, permanent makeup, derma-impigmentation and micropigmentation. It is stated that all these processes involve the same method of application as tattooing and are therefore subject to the same controls and procedures outlined in the 1990 Standards.
Licensing, education and skills: During the past decades there have been several recommendations that the regulations be tightened, and that tattooists be licensed, subject to basic training. The recommendation regarding basic training was never implemented
Sterility requirements: Methods and conditions for using single-use equipment (such as gloves) and for disinfecting/strerilising equipment (such as needles) are described. The issue of sterility of chemicals and dyes is not raised.
Special safety requirements on chemicals/materials used: To our knowledge the Australian Laws do not include any particular safety requirements for the chemicals used.
* Ramon Ernest Goudey: Infection Control in Tattooing in Victoria: an evaluation of current policy, using measures of knowledge, attitudes and practices, MS Thesis, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 24 June 1995
