BODY piercing businesses must be regulated to reduce the dangers of infection says MP David Chaytor, who has launched a Parliamentary campaign following a survey of local GPs.
It revealed a high level of post-operative complications, particularly with navel-piercing.
He says that serious viral infections like hepatitis B can be transmitted if the piercing is carried out with proper hygiene.
Mr Chaytor said councils had no powers to regulate body piercing, unlike ear piercing and tattooing.
The Labour MP for Bury North also worries about the number of children getting their bodies pierced, and the fact that practitioners do not need any qualifications.
"It can't be right that completely untrained people can use local anaesthetic on patients or that those patients have no idea of the potential risks of body piercing," he said.
Following the survey, Bury Council and Bury and Rochdale Health Authority have produced guidelines for practitioners.
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