Tattoo artists needle government for better regulation
Posted May 25, 2010 06:00:07 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The organizers of an annual tattoo festival say the increasing popularity of “body art” shows Maritime governments need to start regulating the industry.
About 1500 people showed up to the fourth annual Maritime Tattoo Festival in Halifax this weekend.
Festival founder Amber Thorpe says she’s hoping to use the festival’s success to showcase the complete lack of regulation of tattooing in the three Maritime provinces.
In other provinces, Thorpe says tattoo parlours get regular inspections and certifications. However, no such rules are in place in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or P.E.I. – in fact, she says all she needed to open her shop in Halifax was a fire extinguisher and a plumbing permit.
Thorpe tells the CBC any art form that involves breaking skin needs to be regulated so it’s as safe as possible.
