Wales has become the first country in the UK to introduce a nationwide ban on the intimate piercing on anyone under-18.

 

The law, which came into force yesterday, makes it an offence for piercing practitioners to arrange or carry out an intimate piercing on anyone aged under 18.

 

There are 10 specified intimate body areas where piercing is banned - including genitalia, nipples and tongues.

 

According to reports, the change will come under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, making it an offence to arrange or perform intimate piercings on children and young people. 

 

Wales will become the first country to issue a nationwide ban - some local authorities across the UK have introduced restrictions on intimate piercings, without banning the practice altogether.

 

Dr Frank Atherton, chief medical officer for Wales, said the law was in place to protect “health and wellbeing,” according to The Huffington Post.

 

The Welsh Government said a study in England found that complications were reported with around a third of all body piercings in people aged 16-24, statistics he said were "concerning."

 

“As young people continue to grow during their teenage years, an intimate piercing performed at a young age could result in further complications arising as their bodies develop,” said a spokeswoman, adding that young people may also "be less likely to have the experience or knowledge of how to clean or maintain an intimate piercing, leading to an increased risk of infection.”

 

The study found that problems were most likely to be reported with tongue piercings, followed by genital piercings and nipple piercings. 

 

Intimate piercing practitioners in Wales are urged to have a “rigid system” in place to help them confirm proof of age and to obtain consent for each procedure, according to the Welsh government.

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