No plastic surgery or tattoos for Guangzhou minors

According to a new proposal, Guangzhou minors will no longer be able to get either plastic surgery or tattoos.

The proposed law is currently under formulation and will take effect in 2013, according to Peng Qu, director of the Community and Rights Department in the Guangzhou Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League.

"Minors are going through a stage of growth and development and cosmetic surgery simply has a bad effect on teenage health. That is the biggest problem when they decide to get plastic surgery or tattoos," he said. "Moreover, their ideas, views and values can be easily distorted, which will then remain an obstacle throughout their lives."

At the legislative level, and with the exception of Taiwan, no Chinese provinces or regions have issued such a regulation.

In 2005, Taiwan implemented a law that any people or agencies caught helping teens get tattoos or body piercings, would be in violation of civil law. Parents could even require compensation from those so-called helping hands and hold them accountable for the laser-removal fees.

If any agencies were to violate the law again, they could be liable for up to three years in prison.