Increased cancer risk from sunbeds

Subject: Increased cancer risk from sunbeds

The number of melanoma skin cancers has doubled in just ten years. Scientific studies show that the use of sunbeds increases the risk of skin cancer by as much as 20 %, confirming that sunbeds are a public health risk and are entirely unsafe to use. Patient organisations have for years been warning of the danger of commercial sunbeds, calling for them to be banned.

1. Will the Commission take action to provide more comprehensive and effective protection from this harmful radiation under the ‘EU Beating Cancer’ programme to be launched by it later this year?

2. What specific measures will the Commission take to minimise risks to the public and, if necessary, restrict the commercial use of sunbeds?

3. Will the Commission take action to raise public awareness in the EU regarding the dangers of using sunbeds?

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(2 September 2020)

Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan will include actions across the entire disease pathway: prevention, early detection and diagnosis, treatment, quality of life as a cancer survivor and palliative care. As outlined in the roadmap published on 4 February 2020 (1), the Commission is exploring further legislative and non-legislative measures to reduce exposure to UV and ionising radiation from natural and artificial sources.

Considering that the development of the plan is ongoing and the fact that consultations with stakeholders are still taking place, it is too early to announce specific elements and actions that could potentially be included in the plan.

However, already at this stage, the Commission-funded European Code against Cancer (2) through its twelve recommendations encourages citizens to reduce their cancer risk, which includes avoiding the use of sunbeds.

The Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks has produced two opinions on the biological effects of the use of sunbeds. The latest opinion of the Committee dates from 2016 (3).

⋅1∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12154-Europe-s-Beating-Cancer-Plan

⋅2∙ https://cancer-code-europe.iarc.fr/index.php/en/

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/scheer/docs/scheer_o_003.pdf