AQW 26077/22-27

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Alliance Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 11/04/2025
Answered On Date: 30/04/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) any measures his Department is taking to prevent underage use of sunbeds; and (ii) whether he will consider increasing the frequency of spot checks in sunbed premises, which are currently bi-annual.

Answer:

My Department continues to work with partner organisations, including the Public Health Agency, District Councils and Cancer Focus NI, to raise awareness of the harms of the sun and UV rays, and is committed to ensuring all sunbed premises in Northern Ireland operate in accordance with the current sunbed legislation.

To spread awareness of the age restrictions and the risk of sunbed use guidance has been made widely available for sunbed owners along with sunbeds health warning posters and information leaflets for sunbed users. Environmental Health Officers in District Councils collaborate through a Sunbeds Task Group to oversee and enforce the sunbeds legislation in NI and each council has committed to regularly inspect sunbed premises across their areas on a bi-annual basis. This includes carrying out test purchases to ascertain if those operating sunbed establishments are allowing minors, under 18 years of age, to use sunbeds and if identification (ID) checks are being made. Councils have powers to act where there is evidence of underage use of sunbeds. Last year councils served 18 fixed penalty notices for non-compliance with the sunbed legislation and in 2023, 28 fixed penalty notices were issued. There is no immediate plan to increase the number of spot checks however if the councils receive a complaint from the public e.g. a school reports that pupils under 18 have been accessing a particular sunbed premises, the council may pay a regulatory visit.