Between April 26 and 30, 2009, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority performed inspections, as a part of a mutual inspection programme of the European Union, focusing on randomly selected tanning bed parlours, also known as solariums, together with a representative of accredited Consumer and Food Product Safety Testing Institute in the Netherlands.
A special measuring instrument was used during the inspection activities, focusing on the fact whether tanning beds radiation reaches above the allowed value of 0,3 W/m2, which has been established by the harmonized European standard EN 60335-2-27/A1/A2. It has been established that when this limit is exceeded and mostly in cases when this limit is exceeded several times, tanning beds pose high risk to human health, as based on the applicable statistical data (it is a risk with delayed consequences). The risk represents mostly the development of skin cancer, quicker skin ageing and other negative dermatological problems.
From the total of 10 inspected tanning parlours, in eight cases the CTIA discovered that the established limited has been exceeded. In all eight cases the CTIA issued applicable corrective measures, specifying time limits during which the discovered shortcomings have to be removed and applicable report must be presented to the Czech Trade Inspection Authority. The fact that tanning beds pose risk to their users has also been supported by the WHO report, describing the use of tanning beds and applicable risk of skin cancer development.
After evaluation of all available information and documents, the CTIA hereby declares that tanning beds pose high risk to consumers. Further, the CTIA decided to publish more information and test results, including identification of the inspected subjects.
We would like to emphasize that the inspected tanning beds parlours have been randomly selected and due to the limited scope of inspection event, it is not possible to clearly evaluate or determine the status of all tanning bed parlours operating in the
Inspection results obtained during the last year could not have been published, because these inspections were mostly educational and focused mainly on documents used during the operation of tanning beds. Therefore, it was not possible to prove health risks.
In the future, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority shall focus more vigorously on the inspection of tanning beds parlours, while participating in the following phase of the EU inspection event, which is currently at the preparation stage. At the same time, we are exploring other possibilities to measure and inspect other tanning beds parlours, which would be paid from our own resources.
RNDr. Jana Příhodová
The General Director
602/123425, 296 366 102
Produced by: Ing. Bouša, Mgr. Turza, J. Groulík