To protect public health and safety and the environment from potential exposure to disease causing agents, the Environmental Health Division Medical Waste Program regulates the generation, handling, storage, treatment and disposal of medical waste throughout the County by providing oversight for the implementation of the California Medical Waste Management Act (MWMA) and the Ventura County Ordinance Code.  Staff of the Medical Waste Program perform routine inspections, issue registrations and/or permits to medical waste generators and investigate complaints.  The Medical Waste Program also responds to illegal disposal incidents whenever the need arises.

The Body Art Program oversees the registration of body art practitioners, inspects and permits facilities that provide tattooing, body piercing and the application of permanent cosmetics, regulates temporary events, and investigates complaints in Ventura County. 

Assembly Bill 300, known as "The Safe Body Art Act" became law on October 9, 2011 and establishes requirements for all body art activities including body piercing, tattooing, branding, permanent cosmetics, facilities, temporary events and mechanical ear piercing.  Some provisions of this law became effective on January 1, 2012, but delay the requirements for individual practitioner registration and for facility permitting until July 1, 2012.

Starting in January 2012, the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health will be offering several training classes throughout the State.  Information regarding training can be found on the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health website.