Health and Hygiene Bylaw 2013

What the Health and Hygiene Bylaw does

The bylaw sets rules about what services must be licensed and what services must comply with separate health and beauty codes of practice.

The codes of practice set minimum standards of hygienic and safe practices for the way:

• premises are constructed, equipped and maintained
• operators conduct themselves when providing services.

It also includes recommendations for best practice.

Services that require a licence

Commercial services that pierce the skin or tissue

This includes:

• tattooing
• traditional tattooing
• body piercing
• acupuncture
• electrolysis
• derma rolling or stamping.

Commercial services that risk breaking the skin

This includes:

• hair removal
• nail care
• exfoliation.

Commercial services that risk burning the skin or tissue

This includes:

• sun beds
• pulsed light treatment
• laser treatment.

Tattooing or traditional tools tattooing that has recognised cultural significance

This includes:

• tatau
• uhi.

Services that need to comply with a code of practice

• Any commercial services that pierce the skin or tissue.
• Any commercial services that risk breaking the skin or tissue.
• Any commercial services that risk burning the skin or tissue.
• Any commercial service involving colon hydrotherapy.
• Public swimming pools, public water play park or splash pad, including pools at motels and schools.
• Any commercial service involving therapeutic massage.
• Any tattooing or traditional tools tattooing that has recognised cultural significance.

Services that are prohibited

Eyeball tattooing is prohibited unless carried out by an ophthalmologist.

Services that are authorised by other qualified bodies

• Any commercial service by health practitioners covered by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, in the practice of their profession
• Commercial acupuncture by members of the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists or members of the New Zealand Acupuncture Standards Authority.
• Tā moko carried out on or under the authority of a marae in the Auckland region under tikanga Māori.
• Commercial ear-piercing carried out in a pharmacy licensed by the Ministry of Health.

Services that are exempt from licence and code of practice requirements

• Any commercial service by health practitioners covered by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, in the practice of their profession.
• Commercial acupuncture by members of the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists or members of the New Zealand Acupuncture Standards Authority.
• Traditional and non-commercial tā moko carried out on or under the authority of a marae in the Auckland region under tikanga Māori.
• Commercial ear-piercing carried out in a pharmacy licensed by the Ministry of Health.

Get a copy of the Health and Hygiene Bylaw and the Code of Practice