Queensland Government bans new solariums

The Queensland Government has announced that it will ban new solariums from 1st January in a move to reduce tanning risks in the skin cancer capital of Australia.

Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg last week introduced The Radiation Safety Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2012, banning the possession of any new commercial solaria in Queensland including sun-beds and stand-up tanning machines that use exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

Explaining the ban, Minister Springborg cited the dangers of UVR and growing community awareness of the risks posed by solarium, stating "people who use a solarium before the age of 35 have a 75% greater risk of melanoma.

"Under new regulations, the possession, supply and use of new commercial solaria will be banned."

In Queensland, nearly 300 die of melanoma each year.

Currently around 120 solaria are registered in Queensland provided by about 80 licensed operators. This number of solarium operators has dipped from 200 operators with 350 units in 2007.

Recent surveys of the industry found about 570 full-time staff and 650 part-time staff were employed by solarium operators in Queensland and about 340 full-time staff and 410 part-time staff employed in gyms with solariums.

Minister Springborg added "this will prevent the establishment of new commercial enterprises based on exposure to UVR, as well as the expansion of those business that currently exist across the state

"Our current legislation requires operators to be licensed. This ban on new equipment will accelerate the trend away from solaria as existing equipment fails or as licensees relocate.

"The ban will not apply to a solarium used exclusively by a health practitioner for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, or privately-owned solaria for the personal use of an individual."

The legislation has been welcomed by Cancer Council Chief Executive Professor Jeff Dunn who stated "a ban on solariums will eliminate potentially deadly skin cancers linked to sunbed use, no doubt saving the lives of thousands of Queenslanders."

Professor Dunn highlighted that says Queensland has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world with more than 2,600 people across the state are diagnosed with melanoma each year.

However, others say the ban does not go far enough.

Gold Coast GP Dr Ian McDougall said the Queensland Government should be wiping out solarium use entirely to stop the risk of people developing deadly skin cancers, stating "if they're serious about it they should ban them all. The use of solariums does increase the risk of skin malignancy. Half banning them is not good enough."

Anti-solarium campaigner Jay Allen, who believes using a sunbed contributed to his own melanoma diagnosis, also believes that the ban on new licences does not go far enough.

Last week he tweeted "not good enough Queensland"

The ban does not apply to a solarium used exclusively by a health practitioner for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, or those bought for personal use.

For more information go to www.sunsafety.qld.gov.au/tanning/

3rd July 2012 - SOLARIUM OPERATORS SHED SUNBEDS TO PUBLIC

30th July 2009 - 'NO DOUBT' SUNBEDS CAUSE CANCER