18 year age limit in solariums introduced in Norway
The Ministry of Health and Care Services have introduced an age limit of 18 years in order to be allowed to use solariums; this starting 1 July 2012. The Cancer Registry of Norway has all along supported the age limit, as research shows a significant increase of malignant melanoma in those who began using solariums at an early age.
Studies show that the risk of getting a malignant melanoma increases by 75 per cent when solarium use starts before 30 years of age. “When the use of solariums among young people goes up, we have to react. The goal is to change attitudes and promote change in behaviour in the population,” the Minister of Health and Care Services, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, says.
It was also decided that all solariums must have competent staff from 1 January 2014.
Norway is one of the countries in the world having the highest incidence of malignant melanoma. International research shows that solarium use increases the risk of malignant melanoma, especially when one starts early in life and with frequent and prolonged use.
