Fun Wheels Pty Ltd
Fun Wheels Pty Ltd are the premium dealer in Australasia for the Dutch company BERG’s commercial and domestic products. Our flagship product is their revolutionary pedal go-kart – the…
read moreConsumer NZ is warning people not to use sunbeds following a 'mystery shopper' survey which showed out of 66 sunbed operators, only 11 met all the necessary safety requirements.
The survey also found three operators who provided broken goggles while only about half of operators gave a formal skin assessment.
Consumer NZ Chief Executive Sue Chetwin expressed concern at the findings, stating "enough is enough, sunbed operators aren't complying with the voluntary standard, and it's time to make that standard compulsory and to license all operators."
This year's poor result was similar to last year's mystery shop and follows years of consumer campaigning to improve industry standards industry.
Consumer NZ emphasise that it is important for sunbed users to wear protective goggle as, without eye protection, UV rays can damage eyes and increase the risk of getting cataracts.
Yet Chetwin adds "at Anytime Fitness in Whangarei our shopper was told wearing goggles was optional and she could close her eyes if she didn't want to wear them.
"(In addition) eight operators provided goggles that were a loose fit and three provided broken goggles."
The New Zealand sunbed standard requires that warning notices in sunbed cubicles specify the risks of exposure to UV and also to warn specific groups about their higher risk. Less than half of the sunbed operators surveyed displayed all the warnings recommended in the standard.
Consumer NZ also highlighted that customers be given a consent form to sign that spells out the risks of sunbed use, emphasises who's at high risk and the importance of wearing goggles. Only 34 operators of the 66 operators in the survey provided this.
Following Consumer's last mystery shop which showed only seven operators compliant with the standard, the Commerce Commission warned the industry they shouldn't make false or misleading claims about the health benefits and risks of sunbed use.
Chetwin added that despite being put on notice 13 operators continued to make claims that concerned Consumer NZ.
New Zealand's sunbed industry association, Indoor Tanning Industry NZ Inc (INTANZ) has welcomed Consumer NZ's survey, suggesting that it shows an 84% compliance increase in overall standards by sunbed operators
INTANZ spokesperson Tiffany Brown explained "we are rapt to see such improvement in this year's survey. By comparison with last year it is clear most operators are getting the message- they need to shape up or ship out."
Brown describes the group's efforts to enforce voluntary guidelines as an 'uphill battle', pin-pointing INTANZ's isolation as the main barrier to success.
INTANZ also criticises Consumer NZ and the Cancer Society for refusing to work in a collaborative way to improve standards.
Brown adds "this year our resources have been stretched to the limit just dealing with the NZ Commerce Commission investigation instigated by these two groups.
"Between that and running our small businesses there are just not enough hours in the day to devote to educating the rest of the industry as we would love to do."
In relation to Consumer NZ's call for licensing and regulation of the industry, Brown explains that INTANZ has "repeatedly said we are happy to accept workable regulation of the industry developed in a co-operative manner.
"If the Ministry of Health did get involved to such an extent we would be better able to fulfil our mission to protect people's freedom to tan while ensuring minimum standards of client care are upheld."
INTANZ claims to have been working to advise the industry on the issue at the heart of the Commerce Commission's recent investigation into alleged misleading claims by sunbed operators. However, the organisation downplays the risks associated with sunbed use suggesting that exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or sunbeds as being a "minor contributing factor to skin cancer, with genetics playing the major part."
For more information go to www.consumer.org.nz
14th February 2011 - SETTLEMENT PRECEDES POTENTIAL SUNBED BANNING LEGISLATION
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