New licensing regulations for beauty centres

"To ensure quality service and prevent health hazards, the committee overseeing the activities of these centres have set new regulations for granting licence for these facilities to operate in the country", Dr Abdul Kareem Al Zarouni, Director of the Curative Medicine Department, told Khaleej Times yesterday.

He said as per the new regulations, homeopathy and massage centres should recruit qualified technicians licensed by the ministry and that separate male and female sections, should be available at these centres. The commercial name of the centre should not contain the word 'massage' but massage could be a part of the services provided by the centre.

The Ministry is the concerned authority for licensing these centres, he said. Inspection teams from the ministry and the municipalities, in cooperation with other concerned parties will be responsible for monitoring the activities and services of these centres, said Dr Zarouni.

About beauty saloons, he said these centres, should provide services that does not have direct link to human health and are confined to hair cuts, henna, make-up, pedicure, manicure and hair removal services.

He noted that municipalities, are the concerned authority for licensing and monitoring these centres, taking into consideration the sterilisation of the used equipments.

Concerning cosmetic centres, Dr Zarouni said theses centres are allowed to provide services directly related to human health, including laser technology (used for different purposes), tattoo drawing and tattoo removal, slimming, hair removal using various methods, hair implantation operations, massage and sauna and other cosmetic services.

He said that the ministry and the municipalities, are responsible for licensing and monitoring cosmetic centres. "Technicians working in these centres, should be well-qualified and licensed by the ministry. Equipment and devices used in these centres should also be licensed by the ministry", said Dr Zarouni.

About centres selling herbal medicines, he said the Pharmacy Department at the ministry and the municipalities, in coordination with the Zayed Complex for Herbal Medicine, are the concerned parties for licensing these outlets.

Under the new regulations, these centres are allowed to sell raw herbal materials used as alternative medicine, which are imported and marketed in the country, he said. He said these centres are not allowed to develop and sell herbal formula for treating ailments.

"As per the regulations, it is not permissible for these centres to promote any herbal formula and the working staff should meet the conditions set by the pharmacy department at the ministry for licensing individuals who wish to work for these outlets,” said Dr Zarouni. He noted that herbal medical formulae, should be registered with the Drug Control Department (DCD) at the ministry and purchased at licenced pharmacies.

Registered herbal formulae, could be dispensed with or without medical prescriptions, in accordance with the classifications of the Registration Section at the pharmacy department, said Dr Zarouni.