BODY ART TATTOO

BODY ART TATTOO

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(Medical complications): **

15.

Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for Health whether (i) there were any reported cases of medical complications related to body art tattoo; and (ii) regulations are necessary in the body art tattoo industry to prevent the possible transmission of infectious diseases through unhygienic practices.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Tattooing procedures carry the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, like HIV, Hepatitis B and C. However, if sterilised or disposable needles are used and proper infection control measures are followed, the risk of infection is very small.

The Health Promotion Board has put in place health education programmes, mainly through health education pamphlets, for tattooists, barbers, hairdressers and beauticians. These include information on the precautions that should be taken, such as the use of disposable equipment where possible, thorough disinfection and sterilisation of non-disposable skin-piercing equipment, and the practice of good personal hygiene.

In the past 30 years, there have been no reports of infectious disease transmission or serious complications from a body tattooing procedure in Singapore. There is no compelling need to regulate the industry. But we will continue to monitor this industry, and leave open the issue of whether to introduce legislation to control it.