Saturday, October 11, 2008 Legislator seeks regulation of body piercing, tattoo
IN LINE with the clamor for more vigilant protection of the public health and welfare, a lawmaker has filed a bill limiting the practice of body piercing and tattooing only to licensed body piercing specialists or tattooists.
Representative Narciso D. Santiago III (Party-List, Alliance for Rural Concerns) filed House Bill 5056, which provides that all body piercing and tattooing shall be performed in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health.
Santiago said the process of body piercing and tattooing involves puncturing through the dermis layer of the skin; if done under unsanitary conditions, this could affect one's health.
"Complications may arise for those with pre-existing medical conditions such as chronic infection, uncontrollable or prolonged bleeding, scarring, Hepatitis B and C, tetanus, skin allergies, abscesses or boils, and inflammation and nerve damage may result because of these procedures," Santiago said.
The measure requires persons who wish to engage in body piercing or tattooing to first obtain a permit from the Department of Health (DOH).
Likewise, the bill prohibits persons, firms, corporations, partnerships, or other associations from operating body piercing studios or tattoo studios without first obtaining a permit from the health department.
Under the bill, anyone who performs body piercing or tattooing without a permit from the DOH shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment (one month and one day to six months) or a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 or both at the discretion of the court.
Those who operate body piercing studios or tattoo studios without a permit shall be punished with imprisonment (six months and one day to six years) or a fine ranging from P100,000 to P200,000 or both at the discretion of the court.
The penalties shall be imposed in the maximum if the violation results in the death, insanity, or psychological damage of the patient and permanent physical disfigurement or disability of the patient.
The bill requires that information regarding the description of the procedure, eligibility criteria for patients, treatment options including relative advantages and disadvantages, general and procedure-specific risks and complications associated with the procedure, their frequency, management course and possible outcomes shall be made available to those seeking to obtain body piercing or tattooing services. (Press release)
