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Circumcision

Asked by Joy MorrisseyConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 21 April 2026UIN 125093

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the minimum age requirement for practitioner of male circumcision for non-medical purposes.

Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed

There is no requirement in law for a practitioner performing non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC) to be of a minimum age. If an NMTC procedure is carried out by a regulated healthcare professional, they will be subject to oversight by the relevant professional regulator such as the General Medical Council for doctors or the Nursing and Midwifery Council for nurses and midwives.

If a regulated healthcare professional is acting in a religious or spiritual role, they cannot ‘opt out’ of their core duties and responsibilities, and therefore any registered healthcare professional wishing to carry out NTMC must be registered with the Care Quality Commission to carry out the regulated activity of surgical procedures.

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