legislation

Quintessence is a very clinical practice, operating the very latest "piron" autoclaves and only using one use only equipment. Our inks are archive quality and gram negative. We also use nitrile gloves for people with latex allergies.

Our body piercing jewellery is either nickel free surgical steel or medical grade titanium, as in accordance with the nickel directive 2000. We also only use cannulae that are opened in front of customer from sealed sterile packs. Dressings are surgical, and not tissue.

All our clinical contracts are displayed on the walls along with all relevant qualifications for the studio & practitioners.

We are members of UKCC, ATF, ETAA, TCGB trade organisations & professional bodies. Including federation of small businesses and the Tattooing & Piercing Industry Union - TPI.

We welcome inspections and constructive advice regarding tattooing & body piercing. We are licensed with the Health Department and surpass all current legislation.

working practices
Statement from Quintessence regarding working practices:
  • All work carried out is at the clients request.
  • All relevant checks will be made regarding age / proof and disclaimers signed.
  • All equipment is either single use / autoclavable or sterile.
  • All our products carry a warranty of merchantability or fitness for purpose.
  • Our jewellery is either nickel free surgical steel or medical grade titanium
    and conforms to the EU nickel directive.

We can only guarantee our asepsis whilst the client is in our care.
Full advice is given on paper and verbally.

In accordance with the law we are registered with the local council,
inland revenue, governing bodies and God.

age limit of consent

There is currently no legislation covering the age limit of consent to be pierced in the UK. However female breasts and all genitalia fall under the legal age of consent, which is currently set at 16. Since we can remember children have been able to have piercings (most notably ears) at jewellers and hairdressers etc.

We are a highly professional clinical practice, regulated by the environmental health department, the association of professional body piercers & surpass all requirements & legislation. We operate the latest piron autoclaves, and "professionally speaking" would prefer any person to be pierced properly clinically and accountably.

We appreciate that some parents don't want their children to be pierced, but this is a communication issue between parents/children, and not a matter for piercing studios.

As long as legislation exists or doesn't, we fall between the devil and the deep blue sea, if we operate a moralistic stance and turn away anybody under say 16, then they WILL go elsewhere (perhaps not so clinical or accountable) and their business flourishes and we go under.

We as a professional business would welcome the age limit to be set at 16 by law, meaning every piercer would have to turn away under 16s, but until that act is passed our hands are tied. We can only suggest that you partition your local MP, and try to get a change in the law.

Any confirmation of these facts can be obtained from:
Hampshire police at force enquiry centre 0845 0454545
Rushmoor borough council at environmental health dept 01252 398398

The internet also will provide you with home office information regarding age limits and safe working practices. COMMON LAW in England states that "if a person under the age of 18 is capable of understanding the nature of the act that is to be done, he or she is capable of giving a valid consent to it unless statute provides otherwise".

Health and safety at work act 1974 (bylaws and safe working practice)
Tattooing of minors act 1969 (current legislation)
Sexual offences act 1956 (nipple and genital piercing)

Quintessence remain committed to providing a safe informed & legal service to all our customers.