In a significant move to safeguard public health, the Government has announced stringent new measures targeting the tanning industry, following a groundbreaking investigation by The Mail on Sunday. Health Minister Karin Smyth publicly commended the newspaper's campaign, which exposed widespread failures in preventing underage sunbed use, as she unveiled proposals to clamp down on exploitative practices.
Minister's Personal Battle with Melanoma
Speaking with heartfelt candour, Ms Smyth revealed her own harrowing experience with skin cancer, which has profoundly shaped her commitment to this issue. 'In 2023, I noticed a small growth on my leg that I dismissed at first,' she recounted. 'Like many people, I was busy, I didn't want to make a fuss. I told myself it was probably nothing serious. It was only after it was checked that I was diagnosed with melanoma. I was treated quickly and I am doing well – but that experience stays with you.' This personal testimony underscores the very real dangers that the new legislation aims to mitigate.
Shocking Findings from Undercover Operation
The catalyst for this governmental action was a Mail on Sunday undercover operation conducted in May 2023. The newspaper sent 16-year-old Isabella Hicks, who had only recently turned sixteen, to visit a series of tanning salons. The investigation revealed alarming breaches of both legal and safety guidelines:
- Isabella was pressured into using sunbeds daily, despite official guidelines recommending a maximum of three sessions per week.
- Of 100 salons approached, more than half failed to request any proof of age.
- Four out of six salons visited in person illegally permitted the teenager to use their facilities.
These findings highlighted a systemic failure to enforce the existing ban on under-18s using sunbeds, a law designed to protect young people from the severe health risks associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure.
Proposed Legislative Crackdown
In direct response to the campaign, the Government is now proposing a dual-pronged legislative approach. The key measures include:
- A ban on all unsupervised sunbed use across England.
- The introduction of mandatory identification checks at all tanning salons to verify age.
'I am grateful to The Mail on Sunday for its important reporting exposing the risks of underage sunbed use, which has drawn attention to this serious public health issue,' stated Minister Smyth. A public consultation on these proposals will be launched this spring as part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, with the new regulations potentially coming into force as early as 2027.
The Grave Public Health Crisis
The urgency of this crackdown is underscored by stark statistics and expert classifications. Skin cancer remains a deadly threat in Britain, claiming an average of seven lives every day. The financial burden on the National Health Service is immense, with treatment costs estimated at approximately £750 million annually.
Ms Smyth expressed deep concern that 'many young adults still underestimate the risks,' with some incorrectly believing sunbeds are harmless or even offer protection. She warned, 'We continue to see reports of teenagers, some as young as 14, accessing sunbeds illegally, despite the ban. That is unacceptable.'
The scientific consensus is unequivocal. The World Health Organisation classifies sunbeds as a Group 1 carcinogen, placing them in the same highest-risk category as tobacco smoking. Exposure to UV radiation from these devices is a direct and proven cause of skin cancer, including melanoma, the most dangerous form of the disease.
This government initiative, propelled into action by investigative journalism and ministerial personal experience, represents a critical step towards curbing a preventable public health epidemic and protecting future generations from the devastating consequences of unsafe tanning practices.
