Minors banned from getting tattooed

Minors will not be permitted to get tattooed even if they have parental consent, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said recently.

As minors are persons with little or no civil capacity, getting a tattoo is beyond their ability to understand, the ministry said in a response to an inquiry to its Children's Affairs Department.

According to the Law on the Protection of Minors, parents and guardians must protect the physical and mental health of their charges. Thus, even when parental authorization is given, tattoo parlors may not serve minors, the ministry said.

Parents who run their own parlors are also forbidden from tattooing their children.

Last week, China issued a regulation prohibiting minors from getting tattooed, which took effect on June 6.

Released by a high-level task force established to coordinate efforts related to the protection of minors under the State Council, China's Cabinet, the guideline seeks to manage oversight of tattoo parlors to protect the rights of minors, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs website.

State and society are responsible for helping minors understand the risks involved in getting tattooed, and parents and guardians should dissuade their wards, the guideline stated.

Businesses, organizations and individuals are banned from offering tattoo services to minors.

Signs displaying the ban must be displayed prominently at tattoo parlors and tattoo artists must ask for identification if it they are unable to determine the age of a customer.

Advertisements promoting tattoos are not allowed to appear in schools or kindergartens, while publications, including books, are forbidden from encouraging minors to get tattoos.

Violations can be reported to civil affairs, business, health and market inspection departments. Punishment will be determined accordingly.