Ten years since SA banned commercial solariums
This year marks a decade since commercial solariums were banned in SA, alongside most Australian states and territories.
The ban was enacted in 2015 as exposure to UV radiation from tanning beds can cause skin cancer and present a risk to users health.
In SA, the Radiation Protection and Control Regulations 2022 prohibit a person providing, or offering to provide, a commercial cosmetic tanning service to another person, with a maximum penalty of $10,000.
The ban also incorporates collariums, a type of tanning bed that claims to stimulate the production of collagen.
The EPA uses UV light meters to assess compliance with regulations, and may take enforcement action against commercial operators of collariums and tanning beds who expose people to harmful UV radiation illegally.
The prohibited range of UV spectrum is from 100 to 400 nanometres. Some collariums produce UV light in the prohibited range, without the ability to moderate the intensity or UV spectrum.
If businesses require further clarification on this matter, they are encouraged to contact the EPA.
Members of the public may report a suspected commercial operation of either a collarium or tanning bed to the EPA at the Your EPA portal.
