N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D O R D E R S I N C O U N C I L
1979 No. 926 (N.I. 10)
Tattooing of Minors (Northern Ireland) Order 1979
[26th July 1979]
Title and commencement
1. This Order may be cited as the Tattooing of Minors (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 … Commencement …
Interpretation
2. — (1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954
1954 c.33
shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
(2) In this Order —
“ medical practitioner ” means a fully registered person within the meaning of section 54(1) of the Medical Act 19561956 c.76
;
“ minor ” means a person under the age of 18;
“ tattoo ” means the insertion into the skin of any colouring material designed to leave a permanent mark.
Prohibition of tattooing of minors
3. — (1) Subject to Article 4, any person who tattoos a minor shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [ five hundred pounds ] .
Defences
4. A person shall not be guilty of an offence under Article 3
— (a)
if he reasonably believes that the minor is not under the age of 18; or
(b)
if, being a medical practitioner or working under the direction of a medical practitioner, he performs the tattoo for medical reasons.