RIYADH —The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has issued executive rules for the women's beauty sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported. A source from the ministry said the ministry was encouraging beauty services to create employment opportunities for women. "The executive rules will regulate the beauty sector in the Kingdom and encourage women to start their own businesses and employ other women as well. The ministry cares about the health and safety of both service providers or consumers," said the source. The source said the ministry also insisted that beauty centers should be run conforming to the values of Saudi society. "The beauty services must be offered in a store licensed for the purpose. The business owner cannot offer beauty services outside the store. All employees offering the service must have a health certificate stamped by the local municipality declaring they are free from infectious diseases," said the source. He said all beauty and makeup products must match the standards and regulations of the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority. All beauty salons and stores must have sanitizers available for the employees and customers to use, he added. The source also said customers should know the difference between a beauty salon and a clinic. "Beauty salons are not permitted to offer any medical services, including plastic surgery or hair removals using laser technology. The employees at these salons are not health practitioners and may not have undergone any training to deal with the human body," said the source. The source said the ministry will cooperate with the Ministry of Interior and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to run frequent inspection campaigns on stores offering beauty services.
