Regulation of sunbeds urged

The Government has been called upon to introduce urgently legislation to regulate the use of sunbeds, including a ban on usage by under-18s.

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) made the call today following a recommendation by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that sunbeds should be moved to the "highest cancer risk category". The IARC also said sunbeds are more dangerous than previously suggested.

“We have been concerned about the lack of regulation around the sunbed industry for years and we cannot wait any longer before legislation is introduced. People are putting their lives in danger as they are not aware of the serious skin cancer risk associated with sunbeds,” said ICS's Health Promotion Manager Norma Cronin.

The IARC research, published in the latest edition of The Lancet Oncologymedical journal, concluded that the danger was greatest to children and young adults. It found that the risk of melanoma was increased 75 per cent if tanning devices were used before 30 years of age.

The report also said several case-control studies provide "consistent evidence of a positive association between the use of ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices and ocular melanoma (eye cancer)".

The report authors said sunbeds should be labelled as “carcinogenic to humans”, meaning they tended to be linked to cancer. Previously, they had been classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.

Industry groups have disputed the research, claiming there was “no proven link” that responsible sunbed use led to skin cancer.

The research was produced by Dr Fatiha El Ghissassi and staff at the IARC.

Last year, the Department of Health invited submissions from the ICS and other interested parties as part of a public consultation process on the introduction of legislation banning sunbeds use for those under 18 years old.

However, legislation has yet to be introduced.

"We are disappointed that the introduction of the legislation is taking so long, particularly in light of today’s findings,” said Ms Cronin.

The ICS's own research into sunbed usage showed that 6 per cent of people admit to using sunbeds, while 2 per cent use them on a weekly basis. Thirty-four per cent of those who use the tanning beds were under 19 when they first tried them.

Sinn Féin’s health and children spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to "act with urgency".

"The Minister for Health has stated that she intends to prohibit sunbed use by under-18s as part of a forthcoming Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. However, this bill will contain a number of different measures and its publication has been repeatedly postponed since it first appeared on the Government’s Legislative Programme in January 2007. No satisfactory reason has been given for this delay," he said.

“The Minister must now act with urgency to stop children being subjected to these highly-dangerous sunbeds. Legislation must be prepared in time for the Dáil resumption in September, even if this requires a standalone bill."

There were 7076 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer in 2007 and and 667 new cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Over the past 10 years, there has been an 84 per cent increase in the number of cases of melanoma skin cancer in men and a 48 per cent increase in women.

Additional reporting: PA