Hygiene cosmetic facilities

The monitoring of piercing studios by the public health department primarily covers compliance with hygiene. In addition to general hygiene, particular attention is paid to the required sterilisation (when using reusable materials) of the equipment used.

There are no statutory training regulations for piercers. When piercing the tongue, nose or genitals, for example, nerves can be injured. Complications caused by improper piercing can result in inflammation, paralysis, etc. Infectious diseases such as hepatitis can also be transmitted.

The public health department strongly recommends paying attention to the following:

• General cleanliness in the piercing studio (disinfectable and easy-to-clean surfaces)
• The piercing area should be separated from the rest of the studio (protection of privacy)
• Use of disposable items or other sterile material for piercing
• Adequate information from the piercer before the procedure about the possible consequences and aftercare
• Information on which material is used as the initial implant (nickel ban)
• The piercer should wear gloves during the actual piercing
• The intended piercing site should be disinfected beforehand.

In the case of minors, the consent of a parent or legal guardian is always required.

The monitoring of tattoo studios by the public health department primarily covers compliance with hygiene standards. As with piercers, there is no prescribed training for tattooing.

There is a high risk of infection - for example with hepatitis viruses - through the material used, especially through the needles and the colour, if these are contaminated with pathogens.

The following points should therefore be observed when tattooing:

• General cleanliness in the tattoo studio (disinfectable and easy-to-clean surfaces)
• The corresponding skin area should be disinfected before tattooing begins
• The tattooist should wear disposable gloves
• The needles used should either be disposable (in the best case) or taken from a sterile box
• The colours should be freshly prepared for each tattooing process. They must not be poured back into the original container after use, but must be disposed of
• The tattooing area must be clearly separated from the rest of the room (protection of privacy)
• Only materials required for tattooing may be present at the tattooing area
• All materials must be cleaned, disinfected and then sterilised after use

Further information:

Tattoo REACH Regulation 2022:

From 4 January 2022, all current tattoo inks, including those approved under the Tattooing Products Regulation ResAP 2008_1, will no longer be REACH-compliant and therefore banned. They may therefore no longer be used for tattooing within Europe.

The Tattoo REACH Regulation, more precisely Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), came into force on 1 June 2007.

Further information:

Health and beauty care facilities, e.g. for foot care, hairdressing, tattooing or cosmetics businesses, are obliged to implement certain hygiene requirements in accordance with the Hygiene Ordinance for the Prevention of Communicable Diseases.

The Public Health Service Act (Gesundheitsdienstgesetz - ÖGDG) of 19 May 1999 sets out requirements for the prevention of infectious diseases that can be transmitted through blood or other bodily fluids. Among other things, it stipulates that health and beauty care facilities whose activities can transmit pathogens to humans can also be monitored by the public health department.

Further information: