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With New South Wales looking to ban sunbeds by the end of 2014, calls are being made for New Zealand to have stronger regulations in the industry.
NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker announced last week that tough new laws totally banning commercial solaria tanning units will take effect in NSW from December 31, 2014.
''Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and this ban is long overdue,'' Parker said on World Cancer Day.
''Obviously we can't ban people from going out in the sun, but this ban will prevent them from being exposed to the harmful UV from tanning units.''
However, Dr Amanda Oakley, president of the NZ Dermatological Society, told TV ONE's Breakfast she does not think New Zealand is at this stage just yet.
"We're going to be very interested to see what happens in NSW and whether they manage to progress that, and banning would be great.
"But the first thing is at least to have regulations in this country. The regulations are present in Europe and the US. But here anything goes."
She told Breakfast voluntary regulations are not adhered to so something needs to be done.
Consumer New Zealand agrees and last year said sunbed operators are endangering the lives of consumers by keeping them in the dark about risks.
In a survey of 66 sunbed operators, Consumer New Zealand found many are failing to comply with voluntary standards.
Only 11 operators passed the voluntary standards, an improvement of four since last year's survey, Sue Chetwin from Consumer New Zealand told TV ONE's Breakfast in December.
"We've been doing this for years and pretty much this industry doesn't really get any better," said Chetwin.
Like Oakley, Chetwin says the sunbed industry should be regulated and operators licensed.
- With AAP
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