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Italy - Italia

In Italy a specific legislation concerning tattoos and piercing practices does not exist.


Legal Basis: Health and safety of the consumers is guaranteed by the Ministero delle Attività Produttive and by the Ministero della Salute also on the basis of the precaution principle, by means of the application of Legislative Decree n. 115 of 17 March 1995 (.pdf) (enforcement of 92/59/EEC Counsel Directive of 29 June 1992 concerning general safety of the products). This Directive is a complement to sectorial comunitary legislations in the case of products, risks and safety aspects not covered, in addition to administrative and enforcement control rules in the same manner not covered.

The wide diffusion of tattoos and piercing practices, has lead the Ministero della Salute, on the basis of the mandate of the Consiglio Superiore di Sanità (National Health Council), to lay down in 2004 the specific guidelines Linee-Guida per l’esercizio delle Attivita di Tatuaggio e/o Piercing (.pdf) (Guidelines to the practice of tattoos and piercing in safe conditions) with the purpose to implement good practices in order to prevent risks connected to tattos and piercings. On the basis of the legislative frame discussed in the previous paragraphs, the planning of the legislative activity at the national level is still at the initial phase and requires decisions on implementation actions. The final target will be a uniform action to ensure the safety of all the products in the trade, proposed and destined both to the consumers and, in the meantime, not to hinder the free trade of the goods.

Art.5 of the mentioned 115/95 Decree "Procedure di consultazione e coordinamento" indicates several Ministers (Attività Produttive, Salute, Lavoro e Politiche Sociali, Interno, Finanze dell Economia, Infrastrutture and Trasporti) as Authorities Responsible, each one for its field of action, in the control of the products circulating in the market. According to what above, these Ministers joint in a conference two times in a year, under the coordination of the Ministero delle Attività Produttive, that is the Responsible Authority for the Notification to European Commission of the measures taken in compliance with art.6 of the above mentioned legislative decree. In particular, the aim of this joint conference is to define common criteria to coordinate the controls foreseen by law. The Ministers involved in these controls act by means of pheriferical structures that operate directly in the market with targeted plans.

As regards the topic of tattoos and piercing, the NAS (Nucleo Anti Sofisticazione) of the Carabinieers Army, on the basis of an agreement with Ministero della Salute, act in real time with targeted actions. Several Regions in Italy settled provisions to implement the Guidelines of the Ministero della Salute of 2004. For an example, the Regione Veneto laid down the Circolare n. 9. del 1 giugno 2001 (.pdf), (BOLLETTINO UFFICIALE DELLA REGIONE DEL VENETO - 15-6-2001 - N. 55). Its main points are: hygienic requirements of the spaces, authorisation and license of the structure and the personnel, hygienic measures and provisions, information, training and control.

Moreover, the Guidelines of Ministero della Salute of 2004 define a number of tasks to be implemented at the Regional level, connected with preventive measures for consumer protection. These measures deals with several topics and actions:

• description of health and hygienic measures
• professional training of practitioners
• information about risk connected to tattoo and piercing practices
• monitoring by local authorities of hygienic, structural and functional rules related to tattoo and piercing practice

In this context, a key point is the definition of a procedure to ascertain the standards of both the structures where the practice occurs and the skills of the practitioners

Monitoring and control actions are regularly carried out by NAS and peripheral control boards (Regional, Municipal). Diseases, or adverse reactions connected to tattoos and percings are reported in the Medical Structures (Hospitals, Physicians, First Emergency etc) where the patient is under medical care. A survey published by EURISPES in January 2003 reports statistic data about tattoo and piercings in Italy. According to this publication, 1/5 kids (age 12-18) has a piercing, while only 6,6% of them has a tattoo. The percentage of the girls with a piercing is 25,6% and is higher than the percentage of the boys (14,4%). Also data about geographic distribution have been presented


Definitions: Tattoos and piercing practices are covered by the 2004 Guidelines of the Ministero della Salute.

Licencing, education and skills: Authorisation and license of the structure and the personnel is required Professional training of practitioners is described in the 2004 Guidelines of the Ministero della Salute.

Sterility requirements: Hygiene conditions are covered by the 2004 Guidelines of the Ministero della Salute.

Special safety requirements on chemicals/materials used: Hygiene and safety requirements are covered by the 2004 Guidelines of the Ministero della Salute.