SUMMER 2023 ROUND-UP Sunbed safety As summer arrives, many people will be looking to kick-start their tan on a sunbed so what should salons be doing to keep their customers safe? ROUND-UP To ensure your sunbeds are working as they should at all times, undertake regular maintenance. A maximum UV light level output of 0.3W/m2 has been agreed across Europe to limit the potential risk of skin cancer, and your tube supplier should be able to provide you with proof that their products meet this standard. You should also have processes in place to prevent anyone under the age of 18 from using your sunbeds. More guidance on this can be found on the Business Companion website. When it comes to tanning products and cosmetics, always check that they are labelled correctly and that they can be legally sold in Britain. All cosmetics, including moisturisers and make-up, must be labelled with key information, including a list of ingredients, instructions for use, a batch code, an indication of durability after opening, and the name and address of a GB manufacturer or importer. Tanning nasal sprays have made a fairly recent appearance on the market, but many of these products have yet to be proven safe. Any products making medical claims must have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. If you have any queries about sunbed and salon safety, seek advice from your local Trading Standards service. Credit: Sarah Noonan and Alex Rankin, Trading Standards officers Image: Shutterstock / Pixel-Shot Bird flu update Britain is still in an avian influenza prevention zone, and there are strict biosecurity rules in place to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading. For more information about what you should be doing, see TSBN Spring 2023. Tim Brooker, animal health officer, Shropshire Council Food charter to go! The Covid-19 lockdowns precipitated a boom in people ordering takeaway food deliveries, and the trend has continued post-pandemic. ROUND-UP To reflect this shift in consumer habits, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has developed a new Food Safety Charter with three of the nations largest online food delivery platforms. Under the charter, Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo must ensure that the approximately 170,000 businesses selling food through their services are registered with their local authorities and meet a minimum standard under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. The FSA is also developing guidance to help online sales platforms onboard food businesses. It intends to use the platforms distribution channels to share information to help couriers and restaurant partners meet appropriate food safety and hygiene practices. Finally, the FSA will work with restaurant partners and third-party groups to protect consumers with food hypersensitivities. Credit: Sarah Noonan, Trading Standards officer Image: Shutterstock / Foxys Forest Manufacture Anonymous Hotline For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service For up-to-date news stories and information, follow us on 0300 303 2636 Is your sector being undermined by unscrupulous traders operating outside the law? Report them via Trading Standards Anonymous Hotline or online and help level the playing field for honest businesses.