Aesthetics in Ireland: the publication of IS EN 16844

Two years ago, I wrote a guest editorial about the panic experienced by Irish nurses at the prospect of the publication of the European Standard CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) IS EN 16844 Aesthetic medicine services – non-surgical medical procedures (McGloin, 2017). The final draft of this standard was put to the vote at the committee in January 2017 and took effect in July 2017. The standard addresses the specific requirements for non-surgical medical aesthetic treatments such as dermal fillers, botulinum toxin, chemical skin peels and medical skin needling. It also provides recommendations for the provision of these treatments, including the ethical framework and general principles according to which these medical aesthetic procedures are provided by medical practitioners and stakeholders within this sector.

Unfortunately, there were no Irish nurse representatives on the CEN, and Irish nurses were informed about the vote on the final draft with only a few days' notice, leaving very little time for nurses to provide their comments to the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) abstained from voting but the CEN standard was passed. This standard will come up for review again in roughly 2–3 years' time and hopefully Irish nurses will then have a say.