But one woman involved in the business wonders if the rules go far enough.

New regulations covering skin piercing and tattooing came into force back in 2006 and the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with local authorities to get the legislation up and running.

Licensing co-ordinator Brian Douglas said: "We issued our first licence to a tattoo parlour a few weeks ago and the application process is ongoing – we have a whole batch of licence applications to process at the moment."

Flashpoint Tattoos, which operates in Callendar Road, will soon be another of the area's fully-licensed tattoo parlours. Owner Callum McPherson and his wife Elaine, who works on the premises, are just waiting for Falkirk Council to check minor details.

Elaine said: "The council is waiting for verification from the company that supplies our ink that the ink is sterile. Everything else is in place, we have paid the £200 for the licence and we have been on courses on things like first aid."

Callum and Elaine also had to ensure their premises had suitable air conditioning and other requirements were in place before they could be considered."

Elaine added: "One thing that bothers me is that the licence is for the premises not for a person, so you could have unlicensed tattooists – who haven't been through the courses – working on people in a licensed premises."

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) say the law governing tattoo parlours is clear – licence holders must follow strict guidelines on cleaning, disinfection, sterlisation and waste disposal. They must also provide clients with relevant information, use consent forms and keep proper records.

The institute's Graham Robertson said: "Operating without these strict standards puts the health of the public at risk. People should always ensure their chosen operator has the necessary licence.

"If any problems are identified, either during routine inspections or as a result of complaints, the licensing order gives environmental health officers the power to issue enforcement notices and revoke licences if necessary."