New Hygiene Ratings For North East Tattoo Studios

The manager of a North East tattoo shop says a new hygiene rating for studios could significantly improve standards of safety and could help prevent blood poisoning.

Gary Rowley is from Custom Coast Tattoos in Whitley Bay and told Metro Radio the voluntary scheme should have been brought in years ago.

• “We’ve said for years there should be some sort of industry standard. I think this is the start, and if we are the first studio to introduce it, then other studios will think we want a five star rating on the door. Then that will get their hygiene standards up to the highest possible.”*

They are the first North East tattoo shop to be given a 5 star hygiene rating in our region.

The North East England Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme has been developed by our the areas seven local authorities.

Similar to the Food Standards Agency’s food hygiene rating scheme, businesses are inspected by an environmental health officer and then allocated a rating award of between one and five - one represents unsatisfactory and five is excellent.

Michael Yeadon is Chairman of the North East Environmental Health Chief Officers Group and said;

“Tattooing has undergone a surge in popularity in recent years and the number of tattoo parlours providing this service has grown at a similar rate. Anyone involved in the tattoo industry must be registered with their local authority, however, at present there is no means of comparing hygiene standards available to the consumer”.