Council’s Environmental Health Team is planning research into whether a bylaw would be beneficial to regulate Marlborough’s appearance industry.

A paper presented to the Environment and Planning Committee today outlined the proposal to investigate whether there is justification in having a Marlborough Appearance Industry Bylaw to set a required standard and to protect the public.

The appearance industry covers many procedures including waxing, manicure/pedicure, derma-blading, microneedling, tattooing and body piercing.

Environmental Health Officers Georgia Murrin and Mary Ann Douthett told councillors they had received an increasing number of formal and informal notifications of concerns regarding practices at some Marlborough appearance industry providers.

“We have in some instances found sub-standard hygiene practices. Complaints can be investigated under the Health Act 1956, but our enforcement powers are limited,” Environmental Health Officer Georgia Murrin said.

“There are currently no national regulations that apply to New Zealand’s appearance industry although our professional body, the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health, is actively lobbying Government to develop national legislation,” she said.

Council can make bylaws for the purpose of protecting, promoting and maintaining public health and safety under the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA).

“Our initial enquiries with some industry appearance businesses have shown support for industry regulation.

“Sixteen councils around New Zealand already have bylaws to register and regulate the appearance industry and we want to do a risk assessment in Marlborough to consider whether we should do the same, in consultation with the industry and the public,” Ms Murrin said.

Some appearance industry procedures have the potential to cause adverse health outcomes if not done hygienically. This includes risk of infection, burns or scarring and can result in time off work for patients, medical costs or even hospitalisation so standards were important to manage and avoid risk, she said.

The Environmental Health Team will engage with Marlborough’s appearance industry providers in February on the potential introduction of a bylaw.

“We will also survey the public in March/April to identify any health concerns related to procedures performed in Marlborough and we will bring the findings of this research back to Council in late June to decide whether a bylaw is appropriate or recommended and what form this could take.”

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