Body Art

Webinar: Your Questions, Your Topics: Body Art Regulations and Innovations

Your Questions, Your Topics: Body Art Regulations and Innovation

Join the Association of Food and Drug Officials' Body Art Committee and the National Environmental Health Association for a one-of-a-kind, thought-provoking body art adventure with a panel of body art experts including environmental health specialists, body artists that specialize in different techniques, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulators, past and present.

NEHA Body Art Model Code

Just over twenty years ago, environmental health professionals and industry experts developed the first NEHA Body Art Model Code (BAMC). In the time since the original code was released, body art has become much more accepted, diverse, and popular. 

In Spring of 2016, NEHA began working with subject matter experts and national partners to develop an updated Body Art Model Code (BAMC). The updated BAMC was created with input from environmental health and industry professionals, and addresses the ways body art impacts public health, both old and new. The BAMC is available for local and state agencies and other organizations to use as a resource to update their own body art codes and protect public health.   

NEHA Body Art Model Code: Updated October 22, 2019

View NEHA Body Art Model Code (PDF)

NEHA Body Art Committee  

Jodi Zimmerman, REHS, MPH, Co-Chair
Registered Environmental Health Specialist II
El Paso County Public Health Department
 
Steve Joyner, Co-Chair
Association of Professional Piercers 
Legislation and Regulatory Affairs Chair 
 
Laurel Arrigona 
Regulatory, Ceutical Labs, Inc. 
AFDO Body Art Committee Chair 
Body Art Education Alliance Chair 
 
Kate Ciampi Shergold 
Executive Director 
Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals 
 
Cathy Montie  
Body Art Training Company  
OSHA Authorized Industry Specific Trainer 
 
Michael Crea, M.S. 
Executive Director, Florida Environmental Health Association 
Body Piercer & Body Art Trainer 
 
Ken Coleman Stevenson II 
VP Regulatory, Ceutical Labs 
AFDO Body Art Committee Chair 
Body Art Education Alliance Chair 
 
Girvin Liggans, Ph.D., REHS, DAAS 
Technical Lead, Retail Food Policy 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
 
Matt Bavougian 
Onyx Piercing Studio - Owner / Senior Piercer
Association of Professional Piercers (APP), Legislation and Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair
Body Art Education Alliance, Co-Chair
 
John Misock  
US Food and Drug Administration, Retired 
 
Carolynn Balcar
Environmental Consultant   
Bureau of Environmental Health
Florida Department of Health
 
Brian W Skellie 
Medical Liaison 
Association of Professional Piercers 
ASTM International Committee F04 Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices 
 
John Johnson 
OSHA Authorized General Industry Trainer
Association of Professional Piercers 
 
Michelle E. Watkins, REHS    
Program Manager 
Division of Environmental Health and Protection 
St. Charles County Government — Department of Public Health 
 
Katherine Martinez, REHS 
REHS
Michigan
EH Topics: 
Body Art

Body Art

Body art is defined as body piercing, tattooing, branding, scarification, subdermal implants, tongue splitting, transdermal implants or the application of permanent cosmetics. Environmental health professionals play an important role in inspecting and regulating body art establishments where the practices of body art are performed.

The National Environmental Health Association advocates for and develops national standards, best practices, and resources that will enhance the abilities of environmental health professionals to ensure safe body art practices and protect public health. In 1999, NEHA developed the Body Art Model Code to identify best practices and body art inspection standards and is currently working on the second edition of the Code. NEHA established the Body Art Committee, comprised of regulatory and industry professionals, that is dedicated to developing resources and fostering improved body art practices.

Body Art COVID-19 Resources

In support of safe operations around Covid-19 / coronavirus, The Body Art Education Alliance (BAEA)  has developed the resources and signage.

VIEW COVID-19 Resources

Emerging Issues

Due to the low availability of body art-related resources for environmental health professionals, there is an opportunity to create meaningful resources and partnerships for environmental health and body art professionals.  Opportunities include:

  • increased advocacy for resources
  • development of trainings, guidelines, and best practices  
  • establishment of body art inspection standards
  • development of partnerships in the field

Newly Released - Updated Body Art Model Code

Since 2016, NEHA has been facilitating the revision of the 1999 Body Art Model Code (BAMC) with the Body Art Committee. The BAMC reflects best practices and body art inspection standards to ensure public health and safety in the field of body art.

 If you have any questions, please contact Christl Tate at ctate@neha.org. 

 

Learn more about the BAMC

Body Art Resources

NEHA resources include a focus on environmental health and body art.

View Body Art Resources

EH Topics: 
Body Art

NEHA’s Policy Statement on Microblading

NEHA recommends that microblading and permanent cosmetic procedures be held to the same standards as other tattooing techniques as outlined in the forthcoming NEHA Body Art Model Code to ensure safe body art procedures and to protect public health. NEHA advocates for national, state, and local policies, regulations, research, and resources that will enhance the ability of environmental health professionals to ensure the practice of safe body art procedures.

NEHA’s Policy Statement on Ear Piercing Guns

NEHA recommends that ear piercing gun use be held to the same standards as other piercing techniques as outlined in the forthcoming NEHA Body Art Model Code to ensure safe body art procedures and to protect public health. NEHA advocates for national, state, and local policies, regulations, research, and resources that will enhance the ability of environmental health professionals to ensure the practice of safe body art procedures.

Webinar: Body Art and Environmental Health

This webinar occurred on January 18, 2018 at 12pm MDT. You can view the recording below.

This activity has been approved for 1 NEHA Continuing Education hour.

Agenda: 

  1. Katherine Sweeney, REHS, Sanitarian at Kent County, Michigan Health Department 
    Topic: Katherine will highlight how environmental health and body art fit together, the role of environmental health professionals in responding to illegal tattoo artists, microblading, and the importance of building relationships between regulators and body artists.  
  2. Cathy Montie, Bloodborne Pathogen Instructor at Cathy Montie Body Art Training Company and Owner of Absolute Tattoo, Piercing and Permanent Cosmetics.   
    Topic: Cathy will discuss potential bloodborne pathogens present in the body art environment, and what plans and preventive actions can be taken to prevent outbreaks.

View Body Art and Environmental Health Webinar 

EH Topics: 
Body Art

Body Art and Partnerships

Together with the body art industry, FDA, AFDO and state and local regulators, NEHA is working to revise its Body Art Model Code (BAMC). The group is working to update the Code in a way that is reflective of current body art trends and procedures, as well as relevant and implementable to industry professionals.

Earlier this year, I accompanied a local environmental health specialist on a body art studio inspection. The tattoo shop had a very cool aesthetic, with exposed brick, art, and repurposed decorations on the walls; the tattoo artists were friendly and accommodating.