Regulations

Regulations

The United States government puts controls in place to protect and inform consumers so that the end user can make an intelligent decision as to what to buy or use, and the length of time that is likely to be safe to use. In our tanning industry, the client or end-user is protected by the FDA (www.fda.com) and the FTC (www.ftc.gov).  Tanning equipment and their accessories are covered by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, The Tanning Accountability and Notification (TAN) Act, and The Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act.  Within the FTC, the Bureau of Consumer Protection tries to ensure that false claims are not made nor alluded to, by advertisers.

The FDA puts controls in place which govern the amount of time which can be spent in a tanning device. It is still up to the salon staff however, to further define this time for a customer, based on their skin type. Just as everyone individually controls the amount of time to spend at the beach, the same must be considered for a tanning device. The performance standard for any given sunlamp product is determined in 21CFR1040.20. It is in this area, that equipment labeling and tanning times are reviewed.

The United States government leaves no stone unturned to ensure the safety of its people. The findings of any and all FDA testing must be reported to Congress. Again, all of these regulations and laws are available for public access through the FDA and the FTC.