The council’s environmental health team has launched a voluntary Cosmetic Compliance Scheme following growing local and national concerns around high-risk procedures in the beauty industry and poor levels of care.

City businesses offering cosmetic and aesthetic treatments are being encouraged to join the scheme, which aims to improve standards and provide reassurance to customers who are considering procedures such as Botox, cosmetic fillers, skin boosters or chemical peels.

More and more people are choosing to undergo these type of treatments, and in August this year the Government confirmed plans to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England.

The plans follow a 2023 national public consultation that attracted nearly 12,000 responses, with strong public backing for increased regulation of the sector. 

However, the scheme is not likely to be introduced for a few more years and, in the meantime, the council is keen to encourage local businesses and practitioners to sign up to its voluntary scheme.

Once registered, environmental health officers will inspect businesses and individual practitioners against a set of criteria. If they are found to be compliant, stickers and certificates will be issued for the clinic and practitioners to display. Details will also be included on an online public register for customers to check.

Inspections will cover a range of key topics including infection prevention and control standards, waste management, product safety, pre-consultation concerns, access to prescription medicines, complication management and after care. The scheme will also include protecting children from harm and reviews of practitioner training and competency.

City of Wolverhampton Council has been working hard over the past few years to ensure businesses offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments are safe for residents to use.

In 2023, the council was the first local authority in England to serve a prohibition notice on a city business offering non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts. Earlier this year, it supported the UK Health Security Agency with investigations into a local clinic offering ‘vampire facials’.

Environmental health officers have also undertaken investigations into unlicenced Vitamin B and Botox treatments and issue regular updates via the council’s social media channels on what to look out for when considering an aesthetic treatment.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “The popularity of cosmetic treatments has grown substantially in recent years and it has become increasingly easy to access them on the high street.

“But just because they are available, this does not necessarily mean that they are safe. Some of these treatments carry risks such as anaphylactic reactions, infection, injury to nerves and blood vessels, burns, pain and, in some cases, even death.

“Too often they are being carried out by salons and practitioners who do not have the right levels of qualification or experience. While we await the introduction of the Government’s mandatory licensing regime, we hope that as many city businesses as possible will sign up to our voluntary compliance scheme.

“The safety of residents is of paramount importance to us, as shown by the pioneering work of our environmental health team. And I would encourage as many salons, clinics and other practitioners to join with us and offer a reassuring experience for anyone considering these treatments.”

Businesses who would like to find out more about the scheme can visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/cosmetic-compliance-scheme or email environmentalhealth@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Residents who have concerns about a business can also contact the team via the same email address.