Answer to a written question – Risks from artificial sun tanning and beauty standards on social media – E-003017/2025(ASW)

Artificial tanning devices with a voltage rating typically of between 50 and 1 000 volts for alternating current, like sunbeds, must meet the Low Voltage Directive’s[1] (LVD) health and safety requirements. This covers cancer-related risks. The General Product Safety Directive[2] provides a general safety framework covering the safety risks which are not addressed by the specific EU legislation, such as the LVD.

In Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan[3], the Commission indicated it would ‘explore measures on exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, including from sunbeds’. The exploration has shown that more information is needed on the effectiveness of preventive and mitigation measures to understand how additional policy recommendations could lead to a better protection from health risks associated with the use of sunbeds, going beyond the LVD. Clear guidance on avoiding the use of sunbeds is already included in the European Code Against Cancer .

Under the Digital Services Act[4] (DSA), providers of very large online platforms and very large online search engines must mitigate systemic risks that may impact vulnerable recipients of the service, like minors (including by taking into account how algorithms could foster harmful or misleading content and by limiting targeted ads that may affect young users’ well-being). Moreover, all platform providers have to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security of minors, assisted by the Commission guidelines[5] of July 2025. The DSA also supports transparency for influencer content and commercial communications.

Additionally, the Commission promotes media literacy and awareness campaigns[6] for young people.

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/35/oj/eng.
• [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/988/oj/eng.
• [3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/european-health-union/cancer-plan-europe_en.
• [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng.
• [5] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/commission-publishes-guidelines-protection-minors.
• [6] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/media-literacy.