6:00am Saturday 14th November 2009
By Neil Macfarlane
UNDER-18s will be banned from using sunbeds after the Government bowed to pressure from health campaigners.
In a victory for The Northern Echo’s Sunbed Safety campaign, ministers have signalled that legislation will be introduced to ban salons from letting children use their facilities.
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron MP said yesterday that the legislation would be introduced to protect young people.
The Sunbed Safety campaign was launched last year when a Darlington schoolgirl was hospitalised after she spent more than 20 minutes under lamps at her local salon.
Katie Turner, 16, needed emergency treatment for severe burns, sickness and pounding headaches.
Although there is a voluntary code in place advising salon owners against admitting under-18s, there is nothing to stop them doing so.
Ms Merron said the law would be changed because the tanning industry could not be relied on to regulate itself.
The announcement came after a report by Cancer Research found that as many as 250,000 children in the UK risk their health by using sunbeds, despite widespread warnings about the danger. The charity found that six per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds in England use sunbeds, and the figure is even higher in the North-East.
In Sunderland, half of 15 to 17- year-olds go to tanning salons.
Ms Merron said: “We are determined to protect young people from the dangers of using sunbeds.
“Cancer Research UK’s report, commissioned by the Government, clearly shows worrying levels of sunbed use by under-18s.
“This confirms that voluntary action by the industry is not protecting young people, and points to the need to introduce legislation.”
Katie’s mother, Elizabeth Turner, said last night: “This is great news.
“I am always amazed by the number of girls Katie’s age who still use sunbeds. They might not be happy about the ban, but it is long overdue.
“No child should suffer the way Katie did.”
Darlington MP Alan Milburn, the former Health Secretary, backed The Northern Echo’s campaign and raised Katie’s case in Parliament.
He said last night: “I am delighted the Government has agreed to protect youngsters.
“Following the terrible injuries Katie Turner received, I urged ministers to act. I hope some good will come from the harm she suffered.”
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