The government has unveiled plans to tighten regulation on non-surgical cosmetic treatments in England, targeting unqualified practitioners offering high-risk procedures like Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs). Under the proposals, only trained healthcare professionals will be permitted to perform such invasive treatments, and a licensing system will be introduced for clinics offering injectables like Botox and dermal fillers.

This move follows increasing concerns over unsafe practices within the booming cosmetic industry, which currently operates with limited oversight. Procedures marketed as ‘non-surgical’, such as liquid BBLs, still carry serious risks, including permanent injury and even death. The case of Alice Webb, who died in 2024 after undergoing one of these treatments, has brought further urgency to calls for reform.

The new rules will introduce age restrictions to protect under-18s from being influenced by harmful beauty trends on social media. Clinics will also need to meet strict safety, insurance, and training standards to obtain licences, though the full implementation of these measures could take years, pending public consultation and parliamentary approval.

Health Minister Karin Smyth condemned the “Wild West” culture within the sector, stating the reforms aim to safeguard the public and support responsible practitioners. Industry bodies, including Save Face and the JCCP, have backed the proposals, calling them vital for public safety.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced it will cancel around £376 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, halting 22 projects from major pharmaceutical firms such as Pfizer and Moderna. These initiatives had been focused on developing vaccines against respiratory viruses like bird flu, influenza, and Covid-19.

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, known for his controversial views on vaccines, said the decision was based on concerns about the safety and long-term effectiveness of mRNA technology. He stated that after a thorough review, his department concluded these vaccines offered limited protection against respiratory viruses and may even contribute to virus mutation and prolonged outbreaks.

Medical experts, however, have condemned the move. Dr Paul Offit, a leading paediatrician and vaccine specialist, argued that mRNA vaccines have proven to be both safe and vital in the fight against severe infections like Covid-19. He emphasised that viruses naturally mutate over time, regardless of vaccine use, and warned that the funding cut could weaken the US response to future pandemics.

The HHS plans to redirect funding towards vaccine platforms with longer-established safety records. This decision follows other sweeping changes under Kennedy, including the removal of the Covid-19 vaccine from official guidance for healthy children and pregnant women, and the dismissal of a key immunisation advisory committee.