The Scottish Parliament has introduced the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill, aiming to regulate some of the most commonly performed non-surgical cosmetic and wellbeing procedures to ensure they are carried out safely and hygienically.
If passed, the Bill will make it illegal to perform certain procedures – such as Botox injections, dermal fillers, thread lifts, and Brazilian Butt Lifts – on individuals under 18 or outside approved premises without appropriate healthcare oversight.
The Bill responds to growing concerns about unregulated cosmetic treatments, particularly those performed by individuals without medical qualifications. It follows a 2020 public consultation, in which 98% of respondents supported tighter regulation of non-surgical procedures.
Under the proposed legislation:
- Procedures must be carried out only in approved settings with qualified healthcare professionals
- Healthcare Improvement Scotland will gain powers to enter and search premises suspected of breaching the law
- New offences will be created for unauthorised providers and for treating under-18s
The Bill also includes provisions to update death certification processes, including changes to the Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011, and streamlining cremation authorisation for deaths occurring elsewhere in the UK.
Jenni Minto, Scottish Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, commented:
“Our aim is to ensure there is robust and proportionate regulation in place so that anyone who chooses to have these procedures can do so safely.
“We have worked with a range of stakeholders including business owners, healthcare professionals, non-healthcare practitioners, environmental health officers and professional regulators to develop our proposals.
“Our priority is to address the public safety concerns that exist in this sector, whilst ensuring businesses that may be impacted are able to access support.”
The legislation will also allow for future updates to the list of regulated procedures and introduce training and qualification requirements for providers.
The Bill is currently at Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament and is part of a wider effort to ensure safe, ethical and professional standards in the growing cosmetic and wellbeing sector.
Image credit: iStock
