Provincial legislation is in the works to ban tanning at salons for individuals 18 years and younger.
Rita Sethi, director of community health and wellness with the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) unit, said the health unit supports the legislation.
But it remains unclear whether the health unit will be charged with enforcing the new provincial tanning salon restrictions or whether it will be a municipal responsibility.
Premier Kathleen Wynne and health minister Deb Matthews announced the restrictions last week and acknowledged they will be pushing legislation to ban tanning by young people.
“We’re interested in what it (the final legislation) will look like because there would be dollars that we would need because we don’t have the resources for it,” Sethi said of enforcement falling under the jurisdiction of the health unit.
According to Sethi, tanning at salons for those under 25 is “upwards of 30 per cent” of all users. Statistics have found 21% of Grade 12 students use tanning salons, with the majority of users females.
Sherry Wallace, owner of Hot Body Tanning in Fergus, said the legislation is not necessary.
“Personally I don’t think it’s a smart thing to do. Now you’re forcing (tanners) to lay outside for hours and hours,” she said, alluding to the alternative of 20-minute tanning sessions at her business. “Six hours (outside) is going to do a lot more damage.”
The legislation would require tanning salons to request age identification of anyone deemed 25 years of age or younger, similar to regulations governing Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) sales.
A section of the pending legislation reads, “Every person who contravenes any provisions of this act or the regulations is guilty of an offence and is liable, for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues.”
Fines in the legislation include $5,000 in the case of an individual or $25,000 in the case of a corporation.
Salons would also be required to post the new legislation and policies, the health risk associated with harmful ultraviolet radiation and set fines for noncompliance.
Sethi said there are also provisions for people with medical ailments who require tanning services.
A press release issued last week by WDGPH medical officer of health Dr. Nicola Mercer stated, “Despite the warnings of skin cancer, many people unnecessarily put themselves at risk from indoor tanning equipment.
“The tanning industry is not regulated and often markets directly at teens in pursuit of a golden tan for spring break or prom. It is estimated that one quarter of young women are using tanning beds and are either unaware of, or ignoring, the health risks. The risk of melanoma increases 75% when tanning equipment is used before the age of 30.”
Mercer concluded, “Public health supports restricting access to tanning beds for youth less than 18 years of age.
“Early and repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause melanoma, the most dangerous and fatal form of skin cancer.”
However, Wallace said when it comes to health impacts, “I think they (the government) need to do a lot more study.”
Anyone opening a tanning salon is required to file a report with the health unit. There are 18 salons operating in WDGPH’s coverage area, according to records (two in Fergus, four in Orangeville, one in Shelburne, 11 in Guelph).
