England Bans Cosmetic Injectables For Children

A Private Member’s Bill relating to the banning of botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers for children in England has passed.

The Bill passed its third and final reading in the House of Lords on 28 April 2021, with Royal Assent being granted the next day.

This legislation will come into force later in 2021, meaning it will become illegal to administer any cosmetic injectables to under 18s. Offering consultations for these treatments is also prohibited.

History of the Bill

Conservative MP, Laura Trott introduced the current version of the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill on 12 March 2021. It was sponsored by Tory life peer, Baroness Wyld and had vocal cross-party support.

Its intention was “to make provision about the administration to persons under the age of 18 of botulinum toxin and of other substances for cosmetic purposes; and for connected purposes.”

This clarifies that injectables that have genuine medical uses, such as Botox, are exempt under this Bill which seeks solely to ban their cosmetic use in under 18s.

Despite there being minimum age requirements for other cosmetic procedures such as tattoos and body piercing, cosmetic injectables had slipped through the regulatory cracks. This is perhaps due to aesthetic medicine being a newer sector and one that is still finding its feet when it comes to solid regulation – something organisations such as the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) are currently working towards.

“Big step forward”

Speaking to Kent Online, Laura Trott MP said of the Bill, “No child needs cosmetic Botox or fillers. I’m delighted that today my Bill has passed, banning the dangerous and unnecessary procedures which can ruin children’s lives.”

Harley Academy founder and executive chairman, Dr Tristan Mehta welcomes the Bill’s passing, saying:

“We fully support this Bill and congratulate everyone involved in getting this important legislation passed. This is a big step forward in achieving better regulation in aesthetics, particularly – and importantly – for our most vulnerable cohort of patients.

We know that younger people are feeling increased cultural and societal pressure to undergo treatments so this Bill will help by restricting their availability to over 18s.

I hope this victory further paves the way towards statutory regulatory requirements across the entirety of aesthetic medicine in the UK.”