The European Union's executive arm said its scientific committee on consumer products concluded that using ultraviolet radiation devices like sunbeds, tanning lamps etc. are likely to increase the risk of malignant melanoma, a skin cancer.
"Currently, apparently, there is no limit for manufacturers producing sunbeds when it comes to the maximum level of ultraviolet radiation," European Commission spokesman Gregor Kreuzhuber told a news briefing.
"So basically what could happen is that you could have a product that is basically barbecuing you because there is no upper limit which controls that," Kreuzhuber said.
The committee found that in Britain, an estimated 100 people a year may die because of sunbed use. The Commission specifically warned that "individuals under the age of 18 years" were at risk of contracting the disease.
Under EU rules the low voltage devices must be safe and the Commission said it will ask member states and the tanning industry to make sure there are warnings to avoid misuse and that the certified products have ultraviolet radiation limits on them.
The main source of UVR exposure is the sun, but some people have substantial exposure to it via sunbeds.
The Commission said that it will take some years to know the full role of the UVR tanning devices in inducing skin cancer.
