British Columbia mulls teen tanning ban

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 20 (UPI) -- The Canadian province of British Columbia is introducing legislation to prevent anyone under age 18 from using commercial tanning facilities.

Citing medical research that links skin cancer to exposure to tanning bulbs, provincial Health Minister Mike de Jong said the legislation should be in effect by the fall, the Vancouver Sun reported Tuesday.

"We believe the evidence warrants these steps," the minister said.

The law will make allowances for rare medical conditions in which a doctor prescribes tanning for dermatological conditions, the report said.

There are about 550 facilities in British Columbia offering tanning beds or booths, the Sun said.

The eastern province of Nova Scotia was the first to impose age restrictions on tanning facilities.

The Australian state of New South Wales has enacted a law that will ban tanning facilities entirely by 2014, the report said.