Commercial tanning: Local regulation of the use and/or sale of commercial tanning units

February 1, 2019

Learn how local governments can limit the use of artificial tanning units

Inside this UVR policy pack

• UVR policy pack: background evidence
• Evidence-informed UVR policy actions
• Key statistics: Exposure to solar and artificial UVR in Canada
• Public perceptions of the issue of exposure to UVR and cancer
• Economic evidence to support UVR policy
• Indicators to measure progress on UVR policy

Regulation of the use and/or sale of commercial tanning units

Issue

Restrict or ban use of commercial tanning units¹

Action

Ban use and/or sale of commercial tanning units^1,2

Restrict use of commercial tanning units by minors with age restrictions, parental accompaniment, parental consent and required skin type assessment¹

Degree of policy adoption*

LOW

Current action(s) in Canada

No municipality in the Directory ** has adopted a policy that bans the use and/or sale of commercial tanning units for the whole of the population. The adoption of evidence-informed policy action on restricting use of commercial tanning units by minors at the local level is also low. Legislation instead has been adopted in all provinces and one territory (NT) prohibiting the use of commercial tanning units by minors.

However, prior to the adoption of provincial tanning bed legislation, Capital Regional District, the Regional Municipality of Peel, and Oakville adopted policies banning minors (<18 years of age) from the use of tanning beds. Both Capital Regional District and the Regional Municipality of Peel require that patrons under the age of 25 present proof of age identification prior to using tanning equipment. In addition, both jurisdictions mandate the use of eye protection when tanning and prohibit unsupervised access to tanning beds.

* Levels of adoption:  Low = very few jurisdictions have adopted evidence-informed policy action; Medium = some, but not all jurisdictions have adopted evidence-informed policy action; High = most jurisdictions have adopted evidence-informed policy action.

** Prevention Policies Directory captures information for 31 Canadian municipalities (18 largest municipalities in Canada, and at least 1-2 largest municipalities in all other provinces/territories).

References

¹ Boniol M et al. (2012) Cutaneous melanoma attributable to sunbed use: systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ, 345: e4757. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e4757.

² Department of Health (Victoria, Australia). (2015). Solariums. Retrieved from: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/radiation/solariums