Following the findings of a Consumer NZ survey, the National MPs are planning of writing a private member’s bill regarding making it compulsory for the sunbed operators to follow the guidelines. The findings of the survey were revealed in December. The survey found that only 69 operators are following guidelines for using sunbeds.

The sunbeds have been under controversy since it was found that they have the potential of triggering skin cancer. Recommendations are being made to regulate the industry, based on the voluntary Australia-New Zealand standard.

Tauranga backbencher Simon Bridges is of the view, “The international evidence is that sunbeds increase your likelihood of skin cancer. It's also clear that the younger you are the higher the risk of harm, so there are strong arguments for regulation regarding younger people”.

Recently, it was reported that Mrs. Kathryn Wilson, a mother of two succumbed to a deadliest skin cancer - malignant melanoma- after being exposed to UV rays on sunbed. She complained that she was not made aware as to how long she should stay on the bed which resulted in extreme skin burn and caused skin cancer.

New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In 2008, about 2,256 new melanoma cases and 317 deaths were reported. Therefore, it has become need of hour to make people and sunbed operators aware of its side-effects.