Health and Community Services
January 26, 2014

New Legislation Protects Children, Families and Communities

The Personal Services Act, which is focused on protecting people who undergo high-risk personal service procedures or activities, will come into effect on January 31, 2014. Among the key features of the act is a ban on tanning services being provided to anyone under the age of 19.

“The Personal Services Act was created to help protect public health, clients and the employees working in personal services industries that provide tattoos, piercings, body modifications and tanning. As we phase in the new regulations, one of our initial goals is to prevent young people from being exposed to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices, which is associated with an increased risk of melanoma. Our government shows leadership in the fight against cancer and our primary focus remains on the health of the public.”
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services

Regulations under the act will be phased in over a period of time. As of January 31, 2014, initial regulations will require owners of personal services establishments and tanning facilities to register their businesses with Service NL and comply with the new age restrictions outlined in the act.

During the second phase of the Personal Services Act implementation, standards and regulations will focus on infection control practices for tattooing and body piercing establishments. These will be announced at a later date.

“The Canadian Cancer Society applauds the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for protecting youth and our citizens from skin cancer. We know that indoor tanning can cause skin cancer and the Personal Services Act will reduce the number of people exposed to this carcinogen. This act is an important step in the right direction.”
- Matthew Piercey, Executive Director, Canadian Cancer Society, Newfoundland and Labrador Division

New Personal Service Act regulations include:

• Tanning facilities will now be prohibited from offering or providing tanning to anyone under the age of 19 and will be required to post health warning signs, provide health risk information and provide protective eyewear to customers.
• Personal services establishments will be prohibited from providing invasive body modification procedures, such as scarification, tongue splitting and sub-dermal implants to persons under the age of 19 and are prohibited from providing tattooing and body piercing to persons under the age of 16 without the consent of a parent or guardian.

For more information on the Personal Services Act and the regulations please visit www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• The Personal Services Act has been proclaimed and its regulations will come into effect on January 31, 2014. Personal service establishments and tanning facilities will be required to comply with provisions of the act such as age restrictions and registering their business with Service NL within 90 days.
• The new act will prohibit indoor tanning facilities from offering services to persons under the age of 19; personal services establishments from offering body piercing and tattooing services to persons under the age of 16 without the written consent of a parent or guardian; and, offering invasive body modification procedures to persons under the age of 19.
• Further regulations will be introduced at a later date that focus on infection control practices in tattooing and body piercing establishments.
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation in young people has been established as an important contributing factor to melanoma risk in adults.
• In Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013, an estimated 50 males and 35 females were diagnosed with melanoma. During the same year, an estimated 15 males and five females died from the disease.

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