Sunbeds
In the guide
Sunbed businesses must adhere to the legal age restrictions, which were introduced because the young are at greater risk of developing skin cancer
This guidance is for Wales
The risks to health caused by over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight and the use of sunbeds is well documented. The risks are greater for those over-exposed to UV rays at a young age. It is for this reason that the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 imposes duties on those who operate sunbed businesses to prevent sunbed use by children.
If you own, manage or have control over a sunbed business, you should have effective systems in place to avoid committing an offence.
The law
If you own a tanning salon where sunbeds are available for use on the premises, or a business - such as a beauty salon, fitness centre or hotel - where sunbeds that are under your management or control are available for use on the premises, then the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 applies to you.
The Act was introduced in recognition of the fact that young people are at greater risk of developing skin cancer from over-exposure to UV rays. A person who has a sunbed business is legally required to prevent sunbed use by children.
The Act defines a 'sunbed' as "an electrically-powered device designed to produce tanning of the human skin by the emission of ultra-violet radiation". Vertical tanning booths, lie-flat sunbeds, canopy sunbeds, sun showers and sun lamps are all examples of what the law considers a sunbed.
There is no requirement for payment to be made for the use of sunbeds in order to satisfy the definition of a sunbed business.
The Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (Wales) Regulations 2011 supplement the Act and provide additional requirements fora business operating in or from Wales.
Requirements
Under the Act and the Regulations a person who carries on a sunbed business onpremises (including sunbed premises that are domestic premises)they occupy, manage or have control over must make sure that:
- no one under 18 uses a sunbed on those premises to which the business relates
- no one under 18 purchases or hires a sunbed (this also applies if the order for the purchase or hire was taken by a premises outside Wales but despatched from a premises in Wales)
- no offer is made by, or on behalf of, the sunbed business to make a sunbedavailable for use on the premises to a person under 18
- no person under 18 is present at any time in a restricted zone* unless they are providing services to the sunbed business - for example, if they are an employee
- the use of sunbeds is supervised by a competent person. The supervisor must be present on the sunbed premisesat all times when a person would like to use, or is using, a sunbed. You are not permitted to operate unsupervised 'coin operated' tanning facilities
- the supervisor is competent to make enquiries and provide assistance and guidance
- the prescribed health information is provided every time a person wishes to use a sunbed
- the prescribed health information is provided on an A4 document using black characters on a yellow background
- the prescribed health information is also displayed on an A3 poster using black characters at least 20 mm in size on a yellow background
- appropriate protective eyewear is available or ensure that each person has their own protective eyewear
- material relating to the health effects of sunbeds is not displayed, except for the prescribed health information
[*The Act defines a 'restricted zone' as being a wholly or partly enclosed space within relevant premises where the sunbed is located and which is reserved for people who are using that sunbed. If the sunbed is located in a room, but not within a wholly or partly enclosed space within that room, then the entire room is a restricted zone. This means that if you locate your sunbed in a partitioned area of a larger room, then that partitioned area is the restricted zone and no one under 18 can enter (unless they are providing services to, or employed by, the sunbed business). If you do not have a partitioned area, then the whole room where the sunbed is located is classed as a restricted zone.]
Supervisors are required to:
- verifythat the user is 18 or over
- assist the user to assesstheir skin type
- provide guidance on sunbed use according to the person's skin type, skin conditions or other medical conditions apparent or disclosed to them
- provide advice on safe operation of the sunbed
- provide the prescribed health information as required by the regulations
- ensure the provision and use of protective eyewear
Copies of the prescribed information in both leaflet and poster format should be available from your local authority. The sunbed leaflet and posters are also available on the Welsh Government website.
EXEMPTION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
A person under 18 can use a 'dedicated sunbed' (one that is used only for medical treatment) if it is for the purpose of medical treatment under the supervision and direction of a registered medical practitioner and is located in, or provided by, a healthcare establishment. The Act has a specific definition of what 'healthcare establishment' means.
Defence
If you are charged with an offence under this Act, you have the defence that you took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing it. Note the exemption for medical treatment, which is explained above.
Keeping within the law
It is your responsibility if you own, manage or have control over a sunbed business to ensure that no one under 18 uses or is offered the use of a sunbed. In order to keep within the law and therefore satisfy the legal defence, you should introduce an age-verification policy and have effective systems in place to prevent use by under-18s. These systems should be regularly monitored and updated as necessary to identify and put right any problems or weaknesses, or to keep pace with any advances in technology.
Key best practice features of an effective system include the following.
AGE VERIFICATION CHECKS
Always ask young people to produce proof of their age. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute, the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs' Council support the UK's national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), which includes a number of card issuers. You can be confident that a card issued under the scheme and bearing the PASS hologram is an acceptable proof of age.
A passport or a UK photocard driving licence is also acceptable but make sure that the card matches the person using it and the date of birth shows they are 18 or over. Military identification cards can be used as proof of age but, as with other forms of identification, make sure the photo matches the person presenting the card and check the date of birth. Be aware that military identification cards can be held by 16 and 17-year-old service people.
You do not have to accept all of the above forms of identification and it may be best to exclude any type of document that your staff are not familiar with.
Some young people may present false identification cards so it is advisable to also check the look and feel of a card. For example, the PASS hologram should be an integral part of a PASS card and not an add-on.
If the person cannot prove that they are at least the minimum legal age - or if you are in any doubt - the service should be refused.
Please see the Home Office False ID Guidance for more information.
OPERATE A CHALLENGE 21 OR CHALLENGE 25 POLICY
This means that if the person appears to be under 21 or 25, they will be asked to verify that they are 18 or over by showing valid proof of age.
STAFF TRAINING
Make sure your staff are properly trained. They should know that the use of sunbeds is age restricted, what the age restriction is and the action they must take if they believe a person under 18 is attempting to use the service. It is important that you can prove your staff have understood what is required of them under the legislation. This can be done by keeping a record of the training and asking your staff to sign to say that they have understood it. These records should then be checked and signed on a regular basis by management or the owner.
MAINTAIN A REFUSALS LOG
All refusals should be recorded (date, time, incident, description of potential buyer). Maintaining a refusals log will help to demonstrate that you actively refuse sales and have an effective system in place. Logs should be checked by the manager / owner to ensure that all members of staff are using them.
A specimen refusals log is attached.
Some tills have a refusals system built in. If using a till-based system, you should ensure that refusals can be retrieved at a later date. You should also be aware that some refusals are made before a product is scanned.
TILL PROMPTS
If you possess an EPoS system then it may be possible to use it to remind staff of age restrictions via a prompt.
SIGNAGE
In addition to the requirement to display the prescribed health information, notices should be displayed stating that no one under 18 can use a sunbed and that no one under 18 can enter a restricted zone. This would then deter potential users and act as a reminder to members of staff.
If there is still doubt, do not allow the person to use the sunbed and do not allow them entry to a restricted zone.
If you employ members of staff who are under 18, you must ensure they do not use the sunbeds, even if they are allowed in a restricted zone.
Further information
The Department of Health and Social Care has produced guidance on the law relating to sunbeds, which is available on the GOV.UK website. Further guidance can be found on the Welsh Government website.
Trading standards
For more information on the work of trading standards services - and the possible consequences of not abiding by the law - please see 'Trading standards: powers, enforcement and penalties'.
Key legislation
Last reviewed / updated: December 2020
In this update
Clarification on when a supervisor must be on the premises, and on the guidance they must provide
Please note
This information is intended for guidance; only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.
The guide's 'Key legislation' links may only show the original version of the legislation, although some amending legislation is linked to separately where it is directly related to the content of a guide. Information on amendments to legislation can be found on each link's 'More Resources' tab.
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