Tan ban looms

SOLARIUMS will be a thing of the past after the State Government announced a ban, effective in 2014.
Premier Ted Baillieu said the Coalition Government was committed to reducing the significant impact of skin cancer on the Victorian community.
“The days for solaria in Victoria are numbered,” Mr Baillieu said.
“Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it is still the most common form of cancer in Victoria.”
The iniaitive will ban commercial solaria in Victoria from 31 December 2014.
The commercial solaria ban is part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Skin Cancer Prevention Framework 2013-2017
Member for Eastern Victoria Region Edward O’Donohue said he was pleased with the announcement.
“The research is clear and shows the risk of melanoma dramatically increases by 87 per cent when the use of tanning devices starts before the age of 35,” he said.
“At this time of year, it is also important to remember to be sun smart during the holiday period and always slip, slop, slap.”
There were more than 40,000 new cases of skin cancer identified in Victoria in 2012, of which 2256 were melanoma. During 2010, 297 people died from melanoma.
The Skin Cancer Prevention Framework 2013-2017 can be found at www.health.vic.gov.au/prevention/skin-cancer.