The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is seeking comments on whether to update regulations that require parental consent and age verification for minors using tanning devices, according to information on the department’s website.
The General Assembly passed a bill in 2008 that prohibits operators of tanning facilities from allowing minors to use certain tanning devices unless they provide parental consent. The legislation noted that more than 2.3 million teenagers used artificial tanning devices that year. It also noted that the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics had taken positions against the use of tanning devices by minors.
The secretary of DHMH requests comments by Friday, Aug. 31 on whether the regulations or consent form should be updated. Comments are specifically sought on:
a) The state of scientific knowledge regarding the health risks associated with tanning devices and their use by minors.
b) Information on whether the consent and age verification procedures prescribed by the regulations are being carried out.
c) Recommendations, with justification, for changes in consent and age verification procedures in the regulation.
The DHMH has asked the Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council to review comments and to make recommendations on whether the department should take any additional action. Written comments may be submitted by mail to Michele Phinney, Director, Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 W. Preston St., Room 512, Baltimore, MD 21201 or call 410-767-6499, TTY: 800-735-2258, or by email to [email protected], or by fax to 410-767-6483.
For details visit the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website.
