The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 (2021 c. 19) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act makes it illegal to administer botulinum toxin or fillers for cosmetic purposes to those under the age of 18.
Provisions
The provisions of the Act are:
Section 1
Making it an offence in England for a person to administer either botulinum toxin or cosmetic fillers to another person who is under the age of 18. Making someone who commits the offence liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine. Allowing it to be a defence to show that at the time of the offence the defendant: was a registered medical practitioner was a regulated health professional acting on directions from a registered medical practitioner, or believed and had taken reasonable steps to establish that the other person was over 18.
Section 2
Making it an offence for a person to own a business where a someone other than an approved person administers botulinum toxin or cosmetic fillers to a person under the age of 18, or where arrangements are made on the behalf of the business owner for that to happen. Making someone who commits the offence liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine. Allowing it to be a defence to prove that the business owner took all reasonable precautions and due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
Section 3
Applying the offence outlined in Section 2 to bodies corporate. Allowing (if the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or due to the neglect of, any director, manager or secretary of the body corporate or anyone purporting to act in such capacity) both the individual committing the offence and the body corporate to be held liable.
Section 4
Allowing offences under Section 2 to be enforced by local weights and measures authorities, using their investigatory powers under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Amending the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to include reference to this act.
Sections 5 and 6
Section 5 gives the Secretary of State the power to make consequential provisions by statutory instrument. Section 6 lays out the territorial extent of the law and when it commences.
Timetable
The Act was introduced in the House of Commons as a private member's bill by Laura Trott, the Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, after she was selected fourth in the private members' bill ballot in January 2020. It had its first reading in February 2020, its second reading in October 2020 and was passed to the committee stage by November. The bill had its third reading on 12 March 2021, passing to the House of Lords the same day. It had its second reading in the Lords on 16 April and its third on 28 April, with the need for committee stage being discharged. It gained royal assent on 29 April 2021.