Texas, Washington State Make Fish Pedicures Illegal

Texas and Washington State have banned fish pedicures, in which clients place their feet into a tub containing small carp that then ingest the callused areas of clients’ feet. In a notice sent to all the state’s salon owners, the Washington Department of Licensing refers to its requirement that all tools and implements be sanitized, disinfected, or disposed of after service on each client. It states, “Due to the inability of salons to meet these requirements in regards to the fish, and to protect consumers from the possibility of infection and disease, these rules do not allow for fish pedicures.”

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s rules do not permit the procedure because the same fish are used on multiple customers and could transmit infectious diseases. Additionally, the use of live fish does not allow for the foot baths and the holding tank for the fish to be adequately cleaned and disinfected in accordance with its rules.