The Independent View: Time to better regulate the sunbed industry

By | Sun 4th October 2009 - 1:35 pm

Cancer Research UK welcomes the emphasis placed on public health and disease prevention in ‘A Fresh Start For Britain‘ recently backed by the Liberal Democrat conference – through mention of the need to tackle obesity, alcohol abuse, and smoking. We know that around half of all cancers are potentially preventable, so we welcome this focus. However, we believe there is one important omission – the need to better regulate the sunbed industry.

Earlier this year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer re-classified UV radiation (and therefore sunbeds) – elevating it to it’s highest risk category for cancer, the same as tobacco. Easy access to unregulated sunbed salons, particularly by young people, continues to be a problem across the UK.

Cancer Research UK is calling for three measures to protect children from the risks that sunbeds pose through:
1) restricting sunbed use to the over 18s,
2) ensuring that all sunbed salons are staffed and
3) providing clear, accurate health information for all sunbed users.
Adults should be free to make their own choices, but they should do so knowing the risks involved.

Rates of skin cancer are rising rapidly. Experts believe that binge tanning on foreign holidays and sunbed use are largely to blame. Scotland has already taken action. We believe that now is the time to extend such protection to children and young people across the UK.

* Sarah Woolnough is Head of Policy at Cancer Research UK.

Read more by or more about or .
This entry was posted in The Independent View.
Advert

3 Comments

  • Martin Land 4th Oct '09 - 7:05pm

    Not sure the fetching shade of red is very appropriate.

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Peter Martin
    @ Paul, I accept you are agreeing to an extent. A limited extent. "There are ample legal mechanisms for ensuring that the financial settlement with t...
  • Paul WalterPaul Walter
    Peter: “We shouldn’t tolerate the term “Crown Dependency” being a synonym for “tax haven”.” I don’t know whether you are actually reading my ...
  • David Raw
    I rather thought the 3rd Duke and Duchess of Atholl sold the Isle of Man's feudal and sovereign rights in 1765 for £70,000 via the Isle of Man Purchase Act 176...
  • Roland
    @Peter Martin - I was responding to the curved ? ball Jeff throw out about Motability: If they can't charge VAT then its okay to reclaim the VAT rather than sim...
  • Peter Martin
    @ Simon, "Low earners on the IOM pay tax at 21% compared to – I think – 20% in the UK" I don't know where you get your IOM figure from. It is easy eno...