Debate contribution: Non-surgical Cosmetic Products and Procedures

Debate contribution by Mr Mark Durkan on 2 December 2024.

MLA

Mr Mark Durkan

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

2 December 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Non-surgical Cosmetic Products and Procedures

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4687007

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The rapidly expanding cosmetic industry and its largely unregulated market are pressing issues that I have been raising concerns about for the past few years. We have all heard horror stories about botched treatments of teenagers — children who are not even legally allowed to buy a pint in a pub undergoing cosmetic procedures that could have life-altering consequences. In 2022, with limited data available here and in the absence of an Executive, I commissioned a comparative research paper — I thank the Research and Information Service (RaISe) team for their efforts — on non-surgical cosmetic procedures in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. While the report confirmed many of my suspicions, the dearth of data not just here but across the water is of concern. What is clear is that cosmetic surgery is a lucrative market. The industry in the UK is worth an estimated £3·6 billion. It is no wonder that so many practitioners are diversifying into the field. The Zoom boom during the pandemic, which saw us all ogling our own images in countless work calls, coupled with social media and the use of online filters, has seen the demand for Botox and fillers skyrocket. I fully understand the positive impact that the procedures can have on people, but people are pitting themselves against impossible standards of perfection. Of course, that is nothing new, but the lack of regulation of licensing and advertising is worrying. Social media is filled to the brim with influencers promoting the latest on-the-market trends from Barbie Botox to Russian lips. Newsfeeds are filled with posts from individuals testing out a move into those procedures, offering freebie treatments to anyone willing to act as a guinea pig. It is not my intention or that of anyone here to attack the many practitioners and businesses that pride themselves on their high standards; rather, this is about improving the system that they work in. Registered healthcare professionals performing NSCPs are required to meet the competency standards set by regulatory bodies such as the GMC, but there is no such requirement for non-medical practitioners, regardless of how much or how little training they have received. That creates a Wild West scenario where, essentially, anyone can practise cosmetic procedures without a proper screening process for customers. If you have the cash, you can access the treatment. It leaves individuals under the age of 18 and those with a history of mental health issues such as body dysmorphia completely unprotected under the current system and often unaware of serious and potentially life-altering complications. Therefore, we support the amendment. It is important to emphasise that, when we talk about botched procedures, we are not referring to just the lack of raised brows or the overdoing of lip filler. The lack of regulation, particularly around hygiene, can have dire, even fatal, consequences, such as sepsis. That not only puts additional pressure on emergency departments and the broader healthcare system but can leave the individual with lifelong physical and emotional scars. It is clear that government has not kept pace with this booming industry. Worryingly, however, the North will fall even further behind our counterparts elsewhere in these islands, given that the Health Minister has not been in a position to legislate. When I first raised these concerns, there were no active plans for legislative protections. However, since then, the Health and Communities Ministers have expressed to me their willingness to introduce a draft regulatory framework not only for non-surgical cosmetic procedures but for broader regulation of the tattoo and piercing industries. We urgently need regulation, oversight, better mechanisms for reporting and stricter controls on online advertising to ensure the safety of consumers and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. That said, any such protections must not harm the livelihoods of the many reputable, conscientious practitioners. We must work with them to create a system that safeguards them and their clients. The industry is not going anywhere; it is here to stay. The Executive need to act now to ensure its safety, rather than wait for disaster to strike.

681 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification