HEALTH : SUNBEDS: POOR RESULTS, NEW PROGRAMME.

One sunbed in seven does not respect ultraviolet (UV) radiation safety limits, reveals a European Commission survey on potential risks associated with the use of sunbeds(1). Given the poor results brought to light by a market surveillance project, the results of which were published on 12 February, 12 member states are launching a joint follow-up initiative. Like the earlier project, it will be co-financed by the EU executive.

In September 2008, a market surveillance exercise was launched in tanning salons and wellness centres based on concerns by specialists over the role of sunbeds in the incidence of skin cancer, which is doubling every 15 years. Under the leadership of the Dutch authority, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia and Poland inspected 516 sunbeds at over 300 locations. Their conclusions are as follows. First, consumers are not sufficiently warned of the hazards of UV radiation. Second, the labelling of sunbeds fails to comply in at least 20% of the cases. Third, the rate of violation of maximum values varies between the member states but radiation safety limits are exceeded by one sunbed in seven.

In the future, the project, which France and the United Kingdom have since joined, is expected to continue in a second phase. Also launched on 12 February, it will develop training for inspectors and improve consumer information. The project will also examine with the member states...