                          CONTROL OF TATTOOING [ CAP. 270.        1
CHAPTER 270
 CONTROL OF TATTOOING ACT
To control and regulate skin tattooing.
(28th December, 1976) *
Enacted by ACT XL of 1976, as amended by Act XIII of 1983.
Short title.
Interpretation.
"licence" means a licence issued under section 6 of this Act;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for public health, and
includes, to the extent of the authority given, any person authorised
by the Minister in that behalf for any purpose of this Act;
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations under this Act;
"relevant time", for the purposes of sections 3 and 5 of this Act,
means the time when the tattoo is performed, and, for the purposes
of section 4 of this Act, means the time when a person has in his
possession or control any of the things duly mentioned in that
section;
"tattoo" means the insertion into the skin of any colouring
material designed to leave a permanent mark;
"valid licence" means a licence which is validly issued and
which is still in force at the relevant time.
Prohibition of 
tattooing a minor 
or without a 
licence.
3. It shall be an offence against this Act to tattoo any person
who is under eighteen years of age or to tattoo any other person
unless by a person who is in possession of a valid licence.
Possession of 
tattooing 
instruments, etc.
4. It shall be an offence against this Act for any person to
have in his possession or under his control any instrument,
colouring material or other object used for the purpose of tattooing,
unless such person is in possession of a valid licence.
No person may be 
tattooed except by 
licensed tattooist.
5.  (1) It shall be an offence against this Act for any person
who is under eighteen years of age to request, allow, suffer or
permit the tattooing of any part of his body.
(2) It shall be an offence against this Act for any other person
to request, allow, suffer or permit the tattooing of any part of his
body except when the tattoo is performed by a person who is in
possession of a valid licence.
Licence to practise 
as tattooist.  
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
6. (1) If the Minister is satisfied that a person has the
necessary ability to perform tattooing without danger to health and
is likely to perform tattooing in such manner and in such hygienic
conditions as justify the issue of a licence, the Minister may issue
any such person a licence in writing to practise tattooing.
(2) Every licence shall be valid only until the 3lst December of
* See  Government Notice No. 640 of 28th December, 1976.
  2      CAP. 270. ]                CONTROL OF TATTOOING
the year in which it is issued and may only be renewed for a further
period or further periods of one year each, and shall expire and
cease to have effect unless it is renewed by the Minister as
aforesaid.
(3) Every licence shall be subject to suspension or withdrawal
by the Minister at any time and the Minister shall not be bound to
give any reason for his action. A licence which has been suspended
or withdrawn shall cease to have effect while it is suspended or
after it has been withdrawn.
(4) No licence shall be granted or renewed unless a fee of five
liri, or such other fee as the Minister may from time to time
prescribe, in respect of the grant and of every renewal thereof, has
been paid to the Minister.
Power of entry and 
inspection.
7.   (1) Any public officer, authorised by the Minister, shall
have the power to enter and inspect any premises in which tattooing
is performed or is suspected of being performed.
(2) Any person who hinders, or obstructs, any public officer in
the carrying out of his duties under subsection (1) of this section
shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
Regulations. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
8. The Minister may make regulations to give fuller effect to
any of the provisions of this Act, and without prejudice to the
generality of the aforesaid powers, such regulations may - 
( a ) provide for the manner and conditions in which and
under which tattooing may be performed;
( b ) provide for the manner in which and the conditions
under which any instrument, colouring material or
other object used for the purpose of tattooing is to be
kept or preserved;
( c ) provide for offences in respect of any matter for which
provision is made by the regulations, and establish
punishments in respect of such offences not exceeding
a fine ( multa ) of five hundred liri, or imprisonment for
a term of six months, or to both such fine and
imprisonment;
( d ) prescribe anything that may be or is required to be
prescribed under this Act.
Offences. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5.
9. Any person committing an offence against this Act shall be
liable - 
( a ) on a first conviction to a fine ( multa ) of not less than
fifty liri but not exceeding two hundred liri, or to
imprisonment for not more than three months, or to
both such fine and imprisonment; and
( b ) on a second or subsequent conviction, to imprisonment
for not less than one month but not exceeding six
months and to a fine ( multa ) of not less than one
hundred liri but not exceeding five hundred liri.
