Tanning industry rapped for misleading claims

An American consumer protection agency says claims over the safety and benefits of indoor tanning are false and deceptive and has forced the Indoor Tanning Association to stop making certain statements.

The Federal Trade Commission filed charges against the tanning industry after a March 2008 advertising campaign that portrayed tanning as safe and beneficial.

Among the statements the FTC took exception to:

• Indoor tanning is safer than tanning outdoors because the amount of ultraviolet light received when tanning indoors is monitored and controlled.
• Research shows that vitamin D supplements may harm the body's ability to fight disease.
• A National Academy of Sciences study determined that "the risks of not getting enough ultraviolet light far outweigh the hypothetical risk of skin cancer."

"The messages promoted by the indoor tanning industry fly in the face of scientific evidence," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Under an agreement that won FTC approval Wednesday, the Indoor Tanning Association is prohibited from repeating the claims the commission found to be misleading, and must not misrepresent any future tests or studies.

Any ads produced by the association that make claims about the safety and benefits of tanning will also have to carry a strongly worded disclosure that tanning can cause skin cancer and serious eye injuries.

Currently, the Indoor Tanning Association isn't facing any fines, but future violations of the FTC's order would cost$16,000 US.

The ruling does not apply to advertising or marketing materials which originate from Canada.