Private ownership and personal use of solariums remains legal (and unregulated) in all states and territories. However, state and territory cancer boards may request a complete ban on solariums in their own jurisdiction based on possible negative health consequences. Commercial solariums are banned in all Australian states and territories, with the exception of the Northern Territory, where there are no commercial tanneries. There is currently no “national demand” from state and territory cancer boards for a ban on private ownership and personal use of solariums across Australia. Private ownership and the use of solariums in Australian private homes remain low. Reports to the Cancer Council on illegal business operations are forwarded to the government department of the relevant state or territory responsible for investigating and enforcing the ban on commercial solaria. This area should continue to be monitored and, as the health effects of solariums in homes across Australia become more apparent (and based on strong evidence), this council`s position on cancer will be examined. Since 2017, it has been illegal for operators to allow a chaise longue under the age of 18. In Auckland, the City Council has also passed a by-law that requires tanning bed operators to be licensed and meet minimum standards. This includes providing a declaration of consent to clients and performing a skin examination. Our mystery shoppers visited 40 tanning beds across New Zealand. Operators included solariums (specialized lawns), fitness centers, hairdressers and beauticians.
The commercial ban on solariums makes it illegal for anyone to provide the use of a solarium (commercial or residential unit) for a fee. However, the commercial ban does not affect personal property or the use of solariums. UV tanning products (beds, standing units and awnings) designed for home use are available in Australia, and since the commercial ban on solariums came into effect, some commercial units are also used in homes. A solarium designed for home use may differ from a business unit in size, UV power intensity, and power required to operate the device. All solariums use fluorescent lamps or tubes containing phosphor mixtures to emit artificial UV rays. Devices designed for home use can have between 20 and 30 lamps of 100 watts, compared to a commercial machine that can have 24 to 60 lamps of 100 to 200 watts. Cancer Council Australia is not calling for a complete ban on private ownership of solariums in home environments. To date, private ownership and the use of solariums in Australian private homes remain low. State and territory governments have taken strict compliance and enforcement measures to control commercial solarium operations and have taken action against people who have marketed the use of tanning beds in their private homes. Some modern solariums emit a UVA-UVB ratio that more accurately simulates natural sunlight to shorten tanning times. A more natural ratio of UVA to UVB does not necessarily mean that these solariums are safer than devices with higher UVA power.[10] UV-emitting devices (solariums, solariums, sun loungers, sun lamps) cause melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and ophthalmic melanoma[4][5]. In 2013-2014, 12% of Australian adults reported having used a solarium before and 1% reported using a solarium in the past 12 months[1].
However, prior to the national ban on commercial solariums in January 2015, it was estimated that in Australia, 281 cases of melanoma, 43 melanoma-related deaths and 2,572 new cases or squamous cell carcinomas each year were due to the use of the solarium, costing the public health system approximately $3 million[2]. In 2017, amendments to the Health Act made it illegal to allow young people under the age of 18 to use a sun lounger. Despite this ban, six of the 20 operators we visited asked our underage buyers to grant a session (our buyers did not use the tanning bed, but filled out our survey form in the privacy of the cabin). Since January 4, 2017, it is illegal for sunscreen operators to allow the use of a chaise longue under the age of 18. There is a fine of up to $2,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a business for non-compliance.
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