ASA Statement on FDA Proposal to Ban Under-18 Tanning

This morning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a press release detailing two major proposed rule revisions for sunlamps in the United States — one calling for a federal ban for use of sunbeds by those under age 18 along with federally-mandated consumer consent statements for all users, and the other calling for rule changes relating to warning signs, eyewear transmission, emergency shut-off switches on sunbeds and lamp labeling and replacement.

FDA released these proposals to the press without consulting with industry. The last FDA stakeholder meeting with the tanning industry was in February 2002 — where the industry proposed constructive solutions to many of the issues being discussed today, but which FDA never followed up on.

The American Suntanning Association — which will be working on this issue — issued this statement to the press today.