New law affecting tattooing, piercings, pharmacies, public toilets, and e-cigarettes considered by National Assembly committee

Published 30/11/2015   |   Last Updated 30/11/2015

A proposed law that could affect things like tattoos and piercings, local pharmacies and public toilets, and the treatment of e-cigarettes in Wales, has been considered by a National Assembly for Wales committee.

The Health and Social Care Committee looked at the potential implications of the Welsh Government's Public Health (Wales) Bill and whether or not it would meet the objectives it sets out to achieve.

On proposals such as a licensing scheme for tattoo, piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis businesses, and a ban on intimate piercings for under 16s, the Committee is in agreement with the Bill's proposals.

Other aspects of the Bill, including changing the way pharmaceutical services are planned to meet the needs of local communities, and requiring local authorities to provide adequate access to public toilets, were also broadly welcomed.

Evidence on the proposals to restrict the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed and substantially enclosed public spaces was more complex, and the Committee was unable to reach an agreement on this issue.

"The Committee is broadly in favour of many of the proposals contained within the Public Health (Wales) Bill," said David Rees AM, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee.

"Provisions in relation to intimate piercings, special procedures, public toilets and pharmaceutical services are to be welcomed as a positive contribution to improving the public health of the people of Wales.

"The evidence surrounding the proposed restrictions on e-cigarettes was conflicting and the Committee was unable to reach a consensus.

"We hope that the conclusions we have drawn and the recommendations we have made will be useful to Assembly Members when they consider their views on the general principles of the Bill."

The Public Health (Wales) Bill is scheduled to be debated by Assembly Members during Plenary on 8 December 2015.