The Government’s proposed England-wide licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures was among the topics discussed at an event for environmental health professionals.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Beauty and Aesthetics Conference saw the proposed scheme, which it is hoped will tackle the lack of regulation in the rapidly growing non-surgical cosmetic procedures sector, discussed in the keynote session.

Professor David Sines CBE, Chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), was joined by Victor Ktorakis, Senior Environmental Health Officer at Enfield Council and CIEH Health and Safety Panel member to deliver the session.

David gave delegates an update on the proposed scheme and next steps, while Victor gave an insight on how he feels the scheme will impact fellow practitioners working on the ground, including his view that proper training will need to be given to support the enforcement of the scheme to make it effective.

Victoria Brownlie MBE, Chief Policy & Sustainability Officer at the British Beauty Council, then drew attention to a variety of key issues about future regulation of the sector.

Other highlights included a session from Dr Lucy Spain from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who gave attendees invaluable insights on dermal filler regulation and practical application of this for Environmental Health Officers (EHOs).

There was also an engaging presentation from Kerry Nicol, External Affairs Manager at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), on its Cost of Beauty campaign and opportunities for collaboration between environmental health and trading standards officers.

Nikki Pearson, Head of Conferences and Member Engagement at CIEH, said:

“This year’s CIEH Beauty and Aesthetics Conference was a truly engaging and insightful event, bringing together experts and practitioners from across the sector to explore a range of topics.

“The presentations were thought-provoking and timely, especially the keynote session on the proposed licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, which sparked valuable discussion around enforcement, training, and public safety.

“I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our speakers for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who attended and contributed to the day’s success. Your passion and commitment continue to drive progress in this important area of environmental health.”