8. SUE KEDGLEY (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Has he been advised of research by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer showing that there is a 75 percent increase in the risk of developing melanoma for people who first used sunbeds in their twenties or teenage years; if so, is he concerned that New Zealand has no legally enforceable standards governing the use of sunbeds?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
Yes, I am aware of the information. I think the member has raised an important issue. I think we should take a look at whether a regulatory approach is called for or whether, indeed, we should consider education as the preferred way forward.
Is he aware that the harmful UV rays from sunbeds are estimated to be up to five times stronger than the midday sun, and does he agree that along with the Government’s campaign to cut our shocking melanoma rates by reducing exposure to the sun’s UV rays we also need to reduce exposure to the harmful UV rays from sunbeds through legally binding standards and a public information campaign; if not, why not?
Amongst those various questions one answer would be that, yes, I am aware of the research that came out in July that said some solaria are capable of delivering five times the UV light of the midday sun, and that is a source of concern. All these things are to do with dose, and I think the important thing is that we now need to consider whether a response is called for—it may well be—and, if so, whether that response should be by way of a standard, a regulation, an education campaign, or a mixture thereof.
Barbara StewartDoes he consider it satisfactory that over 300 people die every year from skin cancer, mostly as a result of excess sun exposure, but that there is no regulation of sunscreen products, meaning that manufacturers can claim what they like about effectiveness without the benefit of independent evaluation; if not, what is he doing about the situation?
I am afraid that the member knows more about this issue than I do. I had assumed there would be some constraint on what one could say about sunscreen products under the Fair Trading Act or consumer legislation. I suggest that the member may wish to drop me a letter along the lines of her question, and I would certainly undertake to look at it. It seems worthy of that.
Is he aware of anecdotal evidence that young women and teenage girls are increasingly using sunbeds on a routine basis in the mistaken belief that sunbeds are a safe way to get a tan, a belief promoted by sunbed providers, such as in the ad I am holding that urges people to “relax and bronze on one of our fast tanning sunbeds with maximum safety”, and why would he not implement what the Cancer Society of New Zealand, the Australasian College of Dermatologists, and the Cancer Council Australia are recommending, namely regulations to restrict the use of sunbeds in New Zealand?
The member may recall that in response to an earlier question I said we will be looking at that and we do need to consider whether a future would involve regulation, standards, or an education approach. I think that is an open question, and I think we should look forward to seeing what the advice—in the first place, from the Ministry of Health—looks like.
I seek leave to table research by the World Health Organization, pointing out that sunbed use in youth is unequivocally associated—