Debating the appropriateness and effectiveness of regulation as a mechanism to manage and control the risk to health from tattooing and body piercing activities

There is currently an overwhelming trend towards the implementation of more stringent measures to govern tattooing and body piercing practices, with state-controlled regulation being targeted most frequently as the current strategy of choice. The aim of this type of regulation within the tattooing and body piercing industry is predominantly to introduce consistent controls, which can then assist in the management and reduction of associated risk to health from such activities. This third of three articles on the topical issue of tattooing and body piercing considers the appropriateness and effectiveness of state controlled regulation as a mechanism for implementing these tighter controls, and ultimately for managing and reducing the associated risk to health from tattooing and body piercing.