on the whole, the laws at the state level specifically about those precise modifications are non-existant or cloudy... at best..

however, there are laws that prohibit the ownership and use of certain implements used to make those modifications... such as scalpels and the such...

i would first check on the state level for those types of laws...

secondly, most state allow great freedom to the county boards to enact their own laws and ordinances in the case of the body modification industry... such as, in georgia, the only laws on the state level are

1: no tattooing within one inch of the skull's eye socket if the tattooist is not a licensed physician
2: no tattooing under the age of 18
3: no piercing under the age of 18 without parental consent...


and that, is it...    though, counties (fulton, lagrange, bibb, and others) have set forth ordinances dealing specifically with the industry and not the gray areas provided by the state level...


mostly, as long as your state government hasn't set laws against certain procedures or use/ownership of implements, your county will be the one to do so...
work with them closely, provide a professional explanation of the procedures in question and ask for a ruling on the procedure...
as is the case with most counties, the board members will probably be resistant to such things... but, if you are a business that provides a valuable service, safe service, and are a contributor to the local economy they tend to relax... especially if you are a member of your county's small business alliance (or whatever they want to call it)


get your information, maintain your certifications BBP, Advanced First Aid, preventative inoculations, and any other thing you can think of (even if your state or county doesn't require them, like spore tests and APP certs) and prove that you are a professional in your field..... present all that in a professional way when before the board and you'll have a good shot...


past that, good luck

i agree that the use of scalpels may disallow you, on a legal level, to do such procedures...

i suspect that it might be possible to gain a ruling that the use of a scalpel for a subdermal implant or transdermal implant can be considered along with the use of a scalpel to produce a scarification...   it may be something to look into... of course, have it on paper from the board of health so that you wouldn't be liable to be prosecuted as practicing medicine without a license...


good luck again... we need more people that are willing to work with the lawmakers rather than bitching about how laws are fucked when they haven't done anything positive to change/make them...

this is something that user AlecTrosex has requested for me to post here... the text is as follows:


Subdermal implants are considered medical procedures in Massachusetts, and are prohibited.
The use of scalpels by body artists with proper permits is not prohibited in Massachusetts.
Scarification is legal in the state and there are state statutes regarding its practice.

http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/sanitation/bodyart_model_regs.pdf



may i add that it may still be possible to skirt around those laws, and still stay legal if you procure a ruling from the county or state board of health and safety... though, with that law in place, it would be infinitely harder to do so...


Edited by freakychild - September/13/2010 at 10:39pm

Ok so I went to the board of health today and as I expected from reading what u guys told me on here, the right to practice the 3D mods were denied, which is ok, I will not stop learning and will relocate if thats what it comes too, but moving on. If there is anyone on here that can give me some info on my other situation it would be very helpful....So I also do magnetic implants and genital beading and the shop that I currently work at, there board of health is also denying me the right to practice these procedures. Now I know that they consider the use of a scalpel to be a medical procedure and Im ok with that for the most part but I was taught to do both of these procedures with needles. The magnets...ok I can kind of see but the beading is just about done like a regular piercing except something is left in the channel and the channel completly closes. I didnt get mad with the board, they said I can request a hearing and Im going to, if not just to hear there reasoning, but is there anyone on here that has gone through the same or similar situation and has had a positive outcome. I brand and do minor scarification projects here which is legal, even though i use a scalpel.... anyone give me some advice or some info i can use....ie....the board of health in montana vs. mike smith  lmao