The FDA announced on Friday its proposed rules that will restrict the use of indoor tanning beds to individuals age 18 and up as well as require all customers to sign a risk acknowledgment form before their first session and again every six months stating they are aware of the health risks associated with the machines. In 2009, The World Health Organization classified tanning beds as carcinogenic to humans. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, tanning risks a 59% greater risk of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. And according to FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Dr. Vasum Peiris, the exposure from tanning beds is 10-15 times more intense than that of the midday sun, leading people to blindness, sunburns, and premature aging.
The new rules come after surveys reveal people are not deterred by the statistics that support tanning dangers. To facilitate decreased tanning bed usage, the FDA proposed changes by the manufacturers and facilities where tanning beds are used, to improve standards and safety of the devices themselves. The Indoor Tanning Association, which represents manufacturers and distributors of indoor tanning machines across the country, said in a statement it embraces label changes that provide a better understanding of “potential risks” but it believes the decision on whether teens partake in indoor tanning is for parents, not the government.
If approved, these rules would be enforced by the FDA with help from state agencies and consumers via complaints. Violators could face fines, device confiscation, and legal action including civil financial penalties or criminal prosecution, according to the FDA. The proposed rules are undergoing a 90-day public comment period as the next step in the process toward becoming final.