Non-surgical procedures regulations come into force in Scotland as commencement regulations are laid

Scotland’s new regulatory regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures has formally begun, following the laying of the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026. The regulations bring key provisions of the 2026 Act into force, marking the first phase of Scotland’s statutory licensing and enforcement framework for advanced aesthetic treatments.

The commencement instrument activates core elements of the Act that establish a legal definition of non-surgical procedures and create new criminal offences for providing such treatments to under‑18s or carrying them out in unlicensed or otherwise non‑permitted premises. The Act covers procedures that pierce or penetrate the skin using needles, chemicals, heat, cold, light, lasers, sound or electricity—reflecting the rapid expansion of the aesthetics sector and the increasing complexity of treatments offered to consumers.

With the regulations now in effect, authorised officers gain powers of entry, search and seizure, and it becomes an offence to obstruct an inspection. Organisations may face prosecution for breaches, and senior individuals can be held personally liable where offences occur with their consent, connivance or neglect. Ministers also gain the ability to introduce further conditions, restrictions and statutory guidance as the licensing regime develops.

The commencement of these provisions follows long‑standing concerns that the UK’s regulatory landscape has not kept pace with the growth of advanced aesthetic treatments. The absence of a consistent legal framework has left consumers exposed to variable standards and has hindered the sector’s ability to professionalise. Despite repeated recognition from Government—including the 2013 Keogh Review—little substantive action had been taken, leaving the industry largely to self‑regulate.

The Scottish reforms therefore represent a significant shift towards statutory oversight, aligning with wider UK‑level developments such as the forthcoming licensing scheme for England under Section 180 of the Health and Care Act 2022. That scheme will introduce mandatory licensing for practitioners and premises delivering non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as dermal fillers and botulinum toxin.