Teens at risk if sunbed bill is not passed by Commons

11 March 2010

Teenagers could continue to face the very serious dangers from sunbed misuse if MPs don't turn out in force this Friday to vote in favour of the Sunbed Regulation Bill, the CIEH has warned.

The Private Member's Bill brought by Julie Morgan MP for Cardiff North is supported by Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts. The Bill proposes a ban on the commercial use of artificial Ultra Violet (UV) tanning devices by under 18s.

However, 30 amendments to the bill have been tabled by one MP, which could scupper the move to protect young people. The main amendments call for sunbeds to meet certain technical specifications rather focusing on a simple measure.

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Policy Officer Jenny Morris said:

"Introducing technical requirements at this stage threatens legislation that seeks to fill in a gap and protect the most vulnerable. The Bill has cross party support and is recognised as a proportionate response to the increased risk of contracting skin cancer

"It is particularly disappointing as the main issues raised are already covered by other legislation. Losing this opportunity will also mean that the level of protection for young people is lower in England and Wales than in Scotland, which has already introduced similar laws."

The past year has seen several high profile incidents where children as young as ten have been severely burned using artificial tanning devices.

In February 2009 14 year-old Kirsty McRae suffered first degree burns to 70 percent of her body having spent £4 to use a sunbed.

Research reported in 13 November's British Medical Journal shows that more than 250,000 children aged 11-17 in England are thought to use sunbeds.

Sunbeds are considered to be as dangerous as cigarettes by the World Health Organization - the evidence of long term harm i.e. increased risk of skin cancer has been produced by several widely respected public health bodies.

Sunbeds are not currently subject to any form of direct legislative control over the age of user, length of exposure or use of protective equipment such as goggles to prevent eye damage.

The Report Stage of the Sunbed (Regulation) Bill will take place in the House of Commons on Friday 12 March.

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