Steven Morris 

Wales bans unsupervised sunbeds

New rules to combat skin cancer say businesses in Wales face fines of up to £5,000 if they provide unsupervised sunbeds
  
  

A model sports solar protection glasses on a sunbed
The new regulations stipulate that protective eyewear must be provided and worn. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Unmanned coin-operated sunbeds have been banned across Wales as part of a drive to combat skin cancer.

From Monday businesses can be fined up to £5,000 if they provide unsupervised sunbeds.

Under the new regulations staff must also display posters featuring prescribed health information and hand out fact sheets. They are not allowed to promote sunbeds as "beneficial to health".

In addition the regulations stipulate that protective eyewear must be provided and worn.

Tanning salons and other businesses that provide sunbeds were banned earlier this year from selling their services to under-18s in England and Wales.

But the Welsh government was concerned that under-18s were still able to go to dozens of unsupervised salons with coin-operated machines.

The regulations also catch businesses that operate from homes and places such as hotels that may not charge for their use or offer them as part of a package.

Health minister Lesley Griffiths said there was "no doubt" that using sunbeds can be harmful.

She said: "They have been linked to a higher risk of skin cancer, eye damage, and premature skin ageing. Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops in young people and sunburn is a risk factor for melanoma."

Dr Tony Jewell, Wales' chief medical officer, said: "This is a significant step forward for Wales in protecting young people from the risks of skin cancer."

Sarah Woolnough, director of policy, Cancer Research UK, said she was delighted by the regulations.

She said: "We know that young people across Wales, particularly teenage girls, have used sunbeds in large numbers which is why Cancer Research UK helped campaign for the recent legislation to make it illegal for under-18s to use sunbeds. We believe these new supporting measures introduced by the Welsh government will make the legislation as effective as possible and help save lives. Sunbeds are not a safe alternative to tanning."

 

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