NHBF Welcomes Scotland’s Progress on Non-Surgical Aesthetics Regulation
National Hair and Beauty Federation backs the Stage 3 amendments which create a legal pathway for non-medic aesthetics professionals.
The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) has welcomed significant Stage 3 amendments to the Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures (Scotland) Bill, describing them as a positive step forward for the thousands of qualified non-medic aesthetics professionals operating across Scotland.
The NHBF, which represents hair, beauty, barbering & aesthetics businesses across the UK, has been closely monitoring the Bill’s progress through the Scottish Parliament. The federation has expressed particular support for amendments tabled by Ash Regan MSP and Sandesh Gulhane MSP, which together address longstanding concerns about access to the profession for skilled non-healthcare practitioners.
“These amendments represent a significant improvement on the Bill as originally drafted. For the first time, we have explicit legislative recognition that qualified non-healthcare aesthetics professionals deserve a clear, workable pathway to operate legally in Scotland. The NHBF has long argued that regulation must be proportionate, qualification-led, and inclusive of the highly skilled practitioners who make up our sector and these amendments move us meaningfully in that direction.”
Caroline Larissey, Chief Executive, National Hair and Beauty Federation
What the NHBF Welcomes
The NHBF has identified several amendments as particularly significant for the sector:
- A dedicated licensing scheme for non-healthcare aesthetics professionals, anchored to SCQF Level 7 and Level 11 qualifications by recognising sector-specific credentials rather than demanding medical registration.
- A legal requirement that training regulations must include pathways for qualified non-healthcare practitioners, providing direct protection against a medics-only regime.
- Phased implementation and transitional provisions to give businesses the time they need to comply, alongside a commitment from Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to publish accessible guidance on support, advice and funding.
- A minimum 24-month implementation period following Royal Assent, with the earliest commencement date set at 6 September 2027 and giving the sector, regulators and training providers time to prepare.
“This is a pivotal moment for the aesthetics sector, and one the NHBF has been working towards for some time. The recognition of SCQF Level 7 and Level 11 qualifications is hugely significant and it acknowledges that rigorous, sector-specific training delivers the skills and knowledge needed to practise safely and professionally. Highly qualified aesthetics practitioners should not be required to hold medical registration to demonstrate their competence. These amendments rightly place the emphasis on what a practitioner knows and can do, not simply which professional register they appear on.”
Jo Lancaster, Quality Standards Manager, Beauty & Aesthetics, National Hair and Beauty Federation
Calling for Industry Representation
While welcoming the direction of travel, the NHBF has emphasised that the devil will be in the detail. The Federation is calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that professional bodies with deep expertise in aesthetics qualifications and workforce standards are involved in the development of minimum standards and licensing criteria.
“The passage of these amendments is a real step forward, but the work doesn’t stop here. The NHBF is now engaging directly with MSPs to ensure that our sector has a formal role in shaping the regulations that will follow. The licensing framework will only work if it is built with input from those who understand the sector’s qualifications, training standards and workforce realities. We are committed to being at that table and will be making that case clearly to Scottish Government and Parliament in the weeks ahead.”
Sam Silver, Head of Policy & Public Affairs, National Hair and Beauty Federation
Background
The Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures (Scotland) Bill sets out a framework for licensing practitioners who carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures including injectable treatments. The Bill has been a focus of significant debate about the appropriate balance between patient safety and preserving access for the many highly qualified non-medic practitioners working in the aesthetics sector across Scotland.
The NHBF represents circa 4,500 hair, beauty, barbering and aesthetics businesses across the UK and has been advocating for proportionate, evidence-based regulation that protects consumers without unnecessarily restricting access to the profession.
