England plans a two-licence system (practitioner and premises) run by local authorities, with procedures sorted into green, amber and red risk tiers. Amber (toxin, fillers) requires healthcare oversight for non-medic practitioners; red (e.g. liquid BBLs, thread lifts) is restricted to healthcare professionals under CQC-registered providers. Confirmed August 2025 but not yet in force, with rollout realistically 2027 or later.
Under section 180 of the Health and Care Act 2022, the government confirmed in August 2025 that it will license non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England using a traffic-light model. Green covers lower-risk work (microneedling, LED, superficial peels) and is licensed to any practitioner meeting standards. Amber (toxin, fillers, PRP and more) is open to healthcare professionals independently, and to non-medics only with named healthcare oversight. Red (breast or buttock augmentation with fillers, thread lifts, hair restoration surgery, deep peels and similar) is restricted to qualified healthcare professionals working under CQC-registered providers.
None of it is in force. The red-tier consultation was still pending as of July 2026 and parliamentary committees are pressing for speed. Our licensing tracker guide maintains the dated timeline and a preparation checklist. The sensible strategy is to meet the expected standards before they become mandatory.