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Newport City Council has adopted new Wales-wide regulations for tattoos and piercings, requiring practitioners to pay for new licences.

The legislation came into force in late November, requiring any individuals wishing to practise tattooing, skin piercing, acupuncture, semi-permanent skin colouring and electrolysis to register with their local authority.

A Newport City Council report describes previous rules as “outdated and inadequate”, and said poor hygiene during those procedures could lead to “adverse health effects”.

Any individuals carrying out those services now have to apply for a so-called Special Procedures Licence, costing £203.

These licences last three years and will then be renewable for a further fee of £189.

Practitioners who wish to operate on a one-off or short-term basis, for example at an event, can also apply for a temporary version of the licence, which costs £92 and is valid for seven days.

Businesses which provide those services will also have to have separate approval, via an Approved Premises Certificate.

These will cost £385 for an initial certificate and then a further £345 for renewal.

Council officers will be responsible for enforcing the licensing requirements and for keeping an up-to-date public register.