Sunbed ban in NSW: should New Zealand follow Australia?

A New South Wales (NSW) ban on sunbeds makes Australia only the second country after Brazil to introduce a ban on solariums and tanning salons because of cancer risks. The ban, not due to begin until 31 December 2014, may put pressure on six other Australian states and New Zealand to follow the NSW lead. The NSW government cited the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which recently upgraded its classification on solariums to "carcinogenic to humans" - the same rating as for asbestos. A University of Sydney research team among those advising the government was the first to examine the association of sunbed use with melanoma occurrence in younger adults. ‘It found that the use of sunbeds by young people aged 18 to 39 years increased their risk of developing melanoma by an average 41%,” said Professor Bruce Armstrong of the Sydney Medical School who in 2011 co-authored the Australian Melanoma Family Study report. The ban was also applauded by Professor of Public Health, Simon Chapman who has championed legislative action: “Solariums are not like spray tan studios, catering to fashion victims. They are cancer incubators.” Speaking to Medical Observer newspaper, the NSW Greens said, despite the ban being a great victory, the three-year delay would cost another 30 to 43 lives.

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