Hygiene and safety guidelines established ahead of the Tattoo Artist Act coming into effect
The Tattoo Artist Act hygiene standards help create a safe treatment environment by separating sterilized tools and spaces. It also takes care of written consent and disease screening, helping people choose legal businesses.
The government has prepared a standard guideline containing hygiene and safety standards for tattoo procedures in line with the enforcement of the Tattooist Act in October next year. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute said they distributed the relevant details on the 30th.
According to the guidelines, needles and pigment cups must be sterile disposable products, and the procedure area must be separated into a waiting area, a procedure area, and a cleaning and disinfection area. To prevent crosscontamination, a partition should be placed between procedure tables or sufficient distance must be maintained, and uncertified overseas directpurchase dyes cannot be used.
Before the procedure, side effects and aftercare methods must be explained, and written consent must be obtained. If there is a related disease such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS, or epilepsy, or if the person is taking anticoagulants, a medical institution's opinion letter must be confirmed, and minors require parental consent and identity verification documents.
In addition, procedures performed outside registered establishments and tattoo removal are, in principle, prohibited, and license revocation is possible in the event of a violation. Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eunkyeong urged that facilities and the environment be thoroughly prepared so that safe tattoo procedures can take place within the institutional framework.