Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ6: Regulation of services provided by beauty salons
Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a reply by the Secretary for
Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(November 9):
Question :
Regarding the regulation of services provided by beauty salons, will the
Government inform this Council:
(a) given that the Consumer Council received 50 complaints concerning intense
pulsed light and laser cosmetic treatments in the first nine months of this year
and, among these cases, after-effects such as colour change, blisters, burns and
scars have appeared on the skins of 22 persons, whether it plans to regulate the
provision of light-based cosmetic treatments by beauty salons, including the
qualification requirements for practitioners; if so, of the details and
timetable of such plans; if not, the reasons for that; and
(b) whether it plans to regulate the provision by beauty salons of those
services such as tattooing and ear-piercing which might cause pathogenic
infections; if so, of the details of such plans; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply :
Madam President,
(a) At present, there is no legislation specifically regulating the use of
ordinary beauty treatment devices. However, devices like Intense Pulsed-Light (IPL)
devices and lasers used in beauty parlours may be regarded as medical devices
and regulated as such. Late last year, the Department of Health (DH) introduced
an administrative control system for medical devices whereby control for the
devices is classified into four classes based on their risk levels. Products
conforming to requirements on safety and effectiveness will be listed. The
devices, the manufacturers and the traders have to comply with requirements such
as undertaking post market surveillance and reporting adverse incidents. The
listing of high-risk devices commenced last year. It is expected that the second
phase of the control system covering listing of medium-risk devices, including
IPL devices and lasers, will commence at the end of the year or early next year.
Moreover, in light of the risk level of improper use of certain medical devices,
DH proposes to restrict the use of selected devices to medical personnel, and/or
personnel with a certain level of expertise. Under the existing administrative
control system, it is proposed that only medical practitioners, dentists and
registered healthcare professionals are allowed to operate high-powered lasers.
Prior accreditation is required for non-registered healthcare personnel (such as
beauticians) for the use of IPL devices, having regard to the presence of risk
in the use of such devices. However, this control system will not cover
intermediate and low-powered lasers in view of their relatively low level of
hazard.
To dovetail with the proposed control system mentioned above, the DH set up in
June 2004 a Working Group comprising representatives from the DH, Education and
Manpower Bureau (EMB), Consumer Council, and Vocational Training Centre (VTC),
as well as medical practitioners and beauticians. The Working Group agreed that
an examination should be developed by the VTC to provide an avenue for IPL
operators, including beauticians, to obtain accreditation. Operators will be
regarded as trained practitioners if they pass the examination, and certificates
will be granted to them. The ultimate objective is to ensure that IPL operators
will have attained knowledge for safe use of IPL and to enhance better consumer
protection. The VTC has developed a syllabus for examination and reference of
prospective students and training institutions interested in organising such
training courses. The syllabus covers the basic principles on the use of IPL
devices, anti-infection procedures and precautions in the use of IPL devices,
consumers' rights, scenarios warranting referral to medical practitioners, etc.
The first examination is scheduled to be held in early 2006, with the
availability of the first batch of accredited IPL-operating beauticians in
mid-2006. These accredited beauticians will be encouraged to have their
certificates displayed in their beauty salons for clients' identification.
We consider it of utmost importance to enhance public education to promote
people's awareness of the risk of laser and IPL cosmetic treatments, and educate
the public to make an informed choice for accredited service providers. In this
connection, a series of publicity activities including distribution of leaflets
and posters, interviews by magazines and provision of health education, etc.
will be launched by the DH next year to inform the public about some of the
necessary facts about procedures using IPL and laser as well as the
aforementioned accreditation examination.
The above administrative control system is the first step taken by the
Administration to regulate the sale and use of medical devices. To take the
system forward, the Administration will closely monitor and assess the use of
IPL devices by beauty salon operators and its potential hazard to public health.
A statutory control system will be introduced if necessary.
(b) Some beauty salons surely provide ear-piercing and tattooing services. In
fact, such services are also available through other channels. For example,
jewellery and accessories retailers also provide ear-piercing service to
customers. In view of the wide variety of service providers, we consider that it
will be more effective to educate the public and the service providers about the
dangers of ear-piercing and tattooing so that necessary precautions may be taken
to prevent contracting blood-borne diseases.
Efforts have also been made by the Central Health Education Unit under the DH to
arouse the awareness of the relevant practitioners about the prevention of
blood-borne diseases through various means such as compilation and distribution
of "Guidelines on Infection Control for Skin Penetration Practice" and
organisation of seminars.
The DH has also published information about the risk of tattooing and
ear-piercing and the prevention of infection of blood and body fluids-borne
diseases. For example, the public are reminded to make sure that all devices for
tattooing and ear-piercing are thoroughly sterilised; and consumers are advised
of the potential hazard of these services and to make an informed choice for
such services. At the same time, the EMB has incorporated the advice of the DH
into its Guidelines for Schools, and the relevant health messages are also
available on the DH's website.
Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:11
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