The Department of Health is moving to regulate tattooing activities in the territory, covering commercial tattoo parlors and also traditional tattooing practices.
Under a proposed rule to be added to the American Samoa Administrative Code, health permits would be required for tattoo parlors as well as traditional or cultural tattooing. According to the proposed rule, it will be unlawful for any person to operate a tattoo parlor, shop, or host any tattoo event—whether commercial, cultural, or traditional—without a health permit issued by the the Department of Health.
Any tattoo artist traveling from another country, state, or territory to perform tattoo services in American Samoa must also comply. All equipment and supplies will be subject to inspection or seizure at the port of entry, airport, seaport, or mail. The proposed rule would require that all tattoo events conducted locally by artists from other countries, states or territories shall be submitted for approval by the Department of Health with all licenses and certificates attached for review. These requests must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled event.
Stringent conditions are laid out for facilities and equipment used in tattoo parlors or for traditional tattooing. Similarly, sanitation and hygiene standards must be met in order to pass Department of Health inspections and obtain a permit. This includes the sterilizing of all implements used.
Employees working in tattoo parlors would be required to have valid health cards and must have completed a course in blood borne pathogens, along with any additional training recommended by the Department of Health.
A health permit for a tattoo parlor is $100, and a health permit for a single cultural or traditional tattooing event is $100.
A copy of the proposed rule may be picked up at the American Samoa Environmental Health Services Division of the DoH, located on the first floor of the GHC Reid Building in Fagatogo. It can also be downloaded from the ASG website at americansamoa.gov.
Public comments are being accepted until June 25.
