Health: Minimum age in tanning salons

The Norwegian Parliament (Storting) introduces a minimum age of 18 years for the use of tanning salons as of July 1, 2012.

It is important to introduce new measures that can help decrease the number of cancer patients, says the Minister of Health and Care Services, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.

Several research studies show that the risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when the use of tanning beds starts before the person is 30 years old. These studies are what the Ministry of Health and Care Services now use to explain their decision to introduce a minimum age of 18 years old in tanning salons.

"Despite several campaigns, more and more people use tanning salons. That involves a greater risk for skin cancer," Strøm-Erichsen tells NRK. Norway is already one of the countries in the world with the most cases of melanoma (skin cancer).

The department also demands that all salons will have to have specially trained employees that are aware of the risks and precautions.

The Norwegian Solarium Association disagrees with the Ministry’s decision. Head of the association, Ronny Pedersen says that around 97 percent of tanning salons are likely to close, and that several of the association’s members will have to file for bankruptcy.

From 2004, the number of young people who reported that they had used a tanning bed in the past year increased from 34 percent, to 55 percent in 2009. Several other countries have also introduced age limits in the past few years.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland

Saturday, 10 December 2011 08:33