Ireland to review dermal filler rules as Government signals tighter oversight

The Irish Government has said regulation of dermal fillers will be a “priority focus in the months ahead”, as it considers tighter controls on who can administer the treatment.

In a statement, the Department of Health said cosmetic procedures in Ireland are currently regulated through “a combination of professional regulation and product regulation”, with doctors and dentists already subject to oversight by their respective regulators.

It said dermal fillers are regulated under the EU Medical Devices Regulation as Class III medical devices, the highest-risk category, and that a valid device must carry a CE mark to show it meets European safety and performance standards.

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2346, all dermal fillers must be CE marked and product instructions must state they “are not to be used in persons who are less than 18 years old” and “should only be administered by appropriately trained healthcare
professionals”.

The Department said the Government’s Programme for Government 2025 commits to ensuring “the administration of dermal fillers is only undertaken by trained healthcare professionals”.

It added that research commissioned from the Health Research Board (HRB) is expected in the first half of this year and will “inform policy, legislative and regulatory considerations in this area”.

“Once received, the Department will review the report and consider the most appropriate option,” it said.

The Department also confirmed that broader regulation of aesthetic procedures is being considered as part of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill, which will introduce licensing for hospitals and certain “designated high-risk activities” in community settings.