Teens on southern Vancouver Island will no longer be allowed to "fake and bake," as the Capital Regional District has just passed a landmark decision restricting those under the age of 18 from using tanning salons.
The bylaw still needs the approval of the Minister of Healthy Living and Sport. But if given the go-ahead, Greater Victoria will become only the third region in Canada to ban the use of tanning beds by teenagers.
The bylaw restricts anyone under the age of 18 from the use of ultraviolet (UV)-emitting devices in public indoor tanning facilities; the only exceptions will be the use of the lights in a physician's office or medical clinic.
The bylaw will stipulate that anyone who appears to be under the age of 25 must present proof of age identification to order to use a tanning bed.
Businesses will be required to post warning signs about the risks associated with tanning, follow stricter sanitary rules, and enforce the use of protective eyewear. Those caught violating the rules will be fined anywhere from $250 to $2,000.
The bylaw will affect everyone in the Capital Regional District, which includes Victoria and 12 municipalities located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
"Research indicates that the use of tanning beds poses significant health risks, particularly in children and youth," the Capital Regional District Board said in a statement. "The bylaw will work to protect youth and reduce risk of skin cancer later in life."
Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall calls the teen tanning ban "a substantive bylaw" that will protect children from a known carcinogen. He says it's sound policy that should go beyond the capital region to across B.C.
"It would be nice to see the provincial government set a provincial level playing field if you like for tanning across the province," he told CTV.
Various studies have linked tanning at an early age with skin cancer. In 2009, an arm of the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), declared tanning devices "carcinogenic to humans." They moved tanning beds into the highest cancer risk category -- the same category as tobacco.
IARC said they were most concerned about the link between tanning beds and melanoma, a form of skin cancer that's expected to be diagnosed in 5,000 Canadians this year and kill about 940 Canadians.
The regional council in Victoria has already faced backlash from business owners. Andy Orr, spokesperson for the Capital Regional District says the tanning industry has lobbied hard against the bylaw.
"Most of the tanning salon operators have come out to say they are against it," he told ctvbc.ca.
The owner of a salon called Always August, Melanie Neumann, told ctvbc.ca she is against the age restriction and said teenagers make up a very low percentage of their clientele. Currently, her salon requires parental consent for anyone under the age of 16 to tan.
"We think that parents should have the right to choose whether their kids want to pre-tan before a vacation or prom," she said.
