Special treatments

Acupuncture

Under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982 every premises and every operator who carries out acupuncture must register; every operator must be registered at every premises they work at within Reading borough. You must also register if you provide a mobile service or operate from your home address. 

To register you must complete our online application form, supplying all the required information. This includes providing details of training you have received in infection control. As part of your application evidence of training in infection control will be required to be provided for all operators. 

You will be able to make you payment after submitting your application. Your application will not be processed without payment. We charge an administrative fee of £39 for any refunds that are needed due to changes made by the applicant. Please ensure that all the information you give is accurate. 

You must also register to provide treatments at an event in Reading. Once you have registered for an event you will not need to re-register if you return for other events in the future

Service	Charge
Registration of premises (including one operator)	£325
Each additional operator	£60
Replacement of operator certificate	£40

Once we have received your application we will carry out checks on the premises or operator, this may include an inspection of your premises. Where possible this will be carried out within 4 weeks of your application. Following these checks you will be issued with a certificate of registration. 

You must not trade until you have received your certificate. 

All premises and operators must also follow local byelaws, these must be displayed at your premises and a copy will be issued with your certificate. We strongly advise that you ensure your premises (and operators) are able to comply with the acupuncture byelaws prior to registering.

We cannot refuse to register a premises or operator unless they have committed an offence. We will inspect your premises to make sure that it and all operators adhere to good hygienic practises as required by the Health and Safety at Work Act and associated regulations. It is an offence to breach the Health and Safety at Work Act, we can take legal action against you, this may result in your registration being removed by the Courts. 

The legislation does not contain an exemption for physiotherapists as they are not classed as ‘medical practitioners’ by the General Medical Council (GMC). If a physiotherapist is providing acupuncture under the supervision of a medical doctor registered with the GMC an exemption can be given on receipt of written confirmation that this is the case. 

Cosmetic Piercing, electrolysis, semi-permanent skin colouring and tattooing 

The council is currently reviewing its policy regarding registration. We are unable to accept registrations for premises or operators to carry out the special treatments of cosmetic piercing, electrolysis, semi-permanent skin colouring or tattooing at this time. This includes not registering further operators at existing premises. 

Premises and operators carrying out these treatments, or wanting to start, will not be prevented from operating and we ask that you contact the Food and Safety Team to discuss this further. 

All premises and operators should follow good hygiene practices in order to reduce the risk of infection. We recommend you follow the tattooing and body piercing guidance.

Please note it is an offence to tattoo someone under the age of 18. 

If you have an enquiry about a previous or future registration please contact the Food and Safety Team. 

Complaints, concerns and enquiries 

If you have concerns about the practices at a premises undertaking special treatments you can make a complaint using our online form: 

If you have an enquiry about special treatments, including registration requirements, please contact the Food and Safety Team. 

Please see the data privacy notice for more details of how we keep your data secure.