Lisburn council to enforce ban on under 18s using sunbeds

The new law came into effect on Tuesday and applies to all premises hiring sunbeds.

And the council says it Environment Health Officers will be visiting all sunbed hire premises in the Lisburn City area over the coming months to ensure that they are complying.

Councillor Andrew Ewing, Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, said: “The Council welcomes the new legislation announced by the Health Minister further restricting the use of sunbeds. In 2009 the Department of Health reported 282 diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma, and sunbed use has been identified as one of the causes of the increase seen in skin cancer rates here.

“The Department of Health has published a ten year strategy to reduce melanoma, which identified those most at risk to be children, young adults and those who work or play sports outdoors and aims to reduce the incidence of skin cancer deaths.

“Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is identified as one of the key causes of skin cancer, and is produced artificially by the lamps in sunbeds.

“Under the new legislation all those who operate a sunbed hire business must provide the public with protective eyewear when using the sunbed and information about the health risks associated with sunbed.

“The Council has the authority to serve fixed penalty notices of up to £250 to those sunbed operators who are found to persistently flaunt the law,” he concluded.

The Council said its Environmental Health Service will be working with sunbed providers ‘to educate and promote best practice’.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the legislation can log on to www.lisburncity.gov.uk or phone 9250 9250.