Uk Regulations for Laser and IPL Treatments

Cosmetic laser and intense light treatments undertaken in England were deregulated as from the 1st October 2010.

If a health-care professional, beautician or tattooist intends to use a class 4 laser for non-surgical cosmetic purposes/treatments they will be exempt from regulation with the Care Quality Commission under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Only certain light-based treatments, including those involving invasive laser surgery by healthcare professionals, will still be regulated. Freelance laser therapists do not require any registration.

However it is highly recommended you have the correct training and insurance in place as we will not be held liable for any injuries sustained to the operator or any third parties due to incorrect use of our machines.

Forthcoming Monitoring Scheme

The Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) is currently working on a substitute monitoring scheme in conjunction with other professional bodies and major laser service providers including;

• The Association of Laser Protection and Healthcare Advisors (ALPHA),
• Local Government Regulation (LG Regulation, previously LACORS) and the 
• Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA)

The idea behind the new monitoring scheme is to promote essential standards and guidelines for laser and IPL users, establish a register of accredited providers and to convince the government of the need for replacement regulation for lasers and IPL systems. The ALPHA group in particular could be seen as having a vested interest in trying to get the government to return to the CQC type scheme, as they could see their incomes being eroded as less people will need to hire them as Laser Protection Advisors in England

However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) throughout the whole of the UK are highly likely to use the Safety at Work Act plus the new Artificial Optical Radiation Safety legislation that came into force in April 2010 to check out anyone using Class 3b, Class 4 Lasers or IPL. New European HSE guidelines are also soon to be published. This though, should not be as daunting or as expensive as the original need to register with the CQC

Special Treatment Licence

London Boroughs will be controlling Cosmetic providers under the London Local Authorities Act.
The local borough will issue Special Treatment Licenses for laser/IPL treatments and premises will audited by Environmental Health Inspectors who will enforce compliance with Special Treatments Licensing requirements under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

So, if you are intending to offer cosmetic laser and IPL treatments such as;

• hair removal
• tattoo removal, 
• skin rejuvenation, 
• skin blemishes associated with acne, 
• pigment blemishes and 
• thread veins,

Expect your local London Borough Environmental Health Department to be contacting you to ensure that you are compliant.
Any Local Authority in England enforcing the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 can use those existing powers with non-surgical laser and intense light providers to ensure conformity.

Similar local legislation also exists in a number of other cities in England (such as Nottingham and Liverpool) and if the scheme is successful, they may be followed by other local government authorities. It is therefore advisable to contact you local Environmental Health Department prior to undertaking treatments of this
nature to check on your local registration requirements.

Regulations in Wales & Northen Ireland

The HIW (Health Inspectorate Wales)  have made the following statement on their website:-

“From October 2010, the regulation of Class 3B or 4 Lasers and IPLs for a non-surgical cosmetic purpose, will no longer be regulated under the Act in England but the changes in England will not apply to Wales.
Anyone in Wales who is thinking of providing cosmetic treatments using a Laser or IPL system, must be registered by HIW before they commence any treatments or they will be operating outside of the law."

Although no details are yet shown on the Regulation & Quality Improvement  Authority website in Northern Ireland, it is understood that they will take a similar stance to the Welsh authority