The Northern Ireland Assembly has passed the first stage of a Bill designed to prevent those under the age of 18 using sunbeds.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Northern Ireland – using sunbeds before the age of 30 can increase the risk of developing skin cancer by 75 per cent. Around 100 people in the UK die from skin cancer solely as a result of using sunbeds every year.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Martin McGimpsey said:

‘This Bill aims to reduce the use of sunbeds overall and, in particular, stop young people from using them in the first place.

‘It will also ensure that more people are aware of the potential risks to their health from using sunbeds,’ Mr McGimpsey added.

The consultation on the legislation mainly supported regulating the sunbed industry.

The Press Association reports that the Bill would prevent sunbed operators from allowing a sunbed to be used unsupervised, as well as forcing an operator to provide the user with written information on health risks – and prohibit an operator from making unproven claims about the health benefits of using sunbeds.

The Bill would also ensure a sunbed operator supplied protective eyewear and would force sunbed operatives to guarantee that ‘any person who allows a person to use a sunbed on those premises is trained to a certain standard’.

The legislation also provides for ensuring that sunbed equipment attains set technical standards.

In Northern Ireland, 28 per cent of those diagnosed with cancer have skin cancer. Health experts say the rise in skin cancer in the province may not necessarily be solely due to using sunbeds – but there is rising evidence of the risk associated with sunbed use.

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