Tattooing of Minors (Northern Ireland) Order 1979
Title and commencement1.
This Order may be cited as the Tattooing of Minors (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 … Commencement …
Interpretation2.
(1)
The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 M1 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 1956 M2;
“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 minors3.
(1)
Subject to Article 4, any person who tattoos a minor shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)
Defences4.
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.