Press statement
Solariums control
Since September 28 till October 2, 2009 the Czech Trade Inspectorate performed already a second control on random selected solariums operator on which a Dutch representative of a accredited testing laboratory of the Office for consumer and food products safety. This control was not involved in the common EU project of enforcement bodies which took place in April 2009.
Using a special measuring apparatus the CTIA wanted to check whether there are any exceeding of maximum acceptable amounts of radiation of 0,3 W/m2 set by the harmonized European norm EN 60335-2-27/A1/A2. Higher values of radiation, especially those of multiple limits overdosing, cause increase of health risks for consumers. There is a real risk in possible skin carcinoma, faster skin aging and other negative dermatological problems. The public was informed on these risks by the Czech Trade Inspection Authority several times in the past.
Out of eleven controlled solariums, in 10 cases overdosing of limits were found (in one case even fourfold) and in these cases the controlled persons got ordered to steam off defects in a particular time period and to inform the Czech Trade Inspection Authority on the steps done. Similar results were published also by European bodies in the final report on the first phase of the international inspection event.
After evaluating all available documents we announce that we again found increased risk of threatening to consumers’ health and therefore the Czech Trade Inspection Authority has decided to publish details about the measuring results including identification of these controlled subjects.
We emphasize on the other hand that the controlled solariums premises were chosen by chance and due to the limited volume of the inspection event we cannot judge on presuming the state in all solariums premises in the Czech Republic.
The results of this second inspection event obviously confirmed non-satisfactory findings of the previous measuring and the Czech Trade Inspection Authority will therefore shortly launch systematic whole-scale controls on solariums, already with the help of its own measuring apparatus and its own educated experts. At the same time the Czech Trade Inspection Authority will participate in the second phase of the common EU enforcement project which has been just launched.
RNDr. Jana Příhodová
Director General
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