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Fabutan agrees to stop promoting unproven health benefits of indoor tanning

OTTAWA, February 27, 2006 – The Competition Bureau filed a consent agreement today with the Competition Tribunal, requiring Fabutan Corporation to stop making representations to the public linking indoor tanning as having health benefits unless those benefits have been scientifically proven.

Fabutan and its President, Douglas McNabb, must stop making representations to the public linking indoor tanning with the unproven benefits of vitamin D - reduced risk of certain cancers, heart and cardiovascular conditions, and osteopororis - and promoting tanning as useful in treating seasonal affective order or stimulating the metabolism. 

The agreement recognizes that exposure to sources of UV-B, including tanning equipment, can stimulate production of vitamin D in the body. However, any statement concerning a relationship between UV-B, Vitamin D and possible health benefits must be accompanied by the following warning: 

“Tanning, whether by sunlight or sunbed, may cause pre-mature aging of the skin and skin cancer. Exposure to UV-B, whether by sunlight or sunbed, produces Vitamin D in the body. However, mild exposure is sufficient. Tanning is not required to generate Vitamin D. Vitamin D levels in the body may be maintained by oral supplements without tanning.  Increased Vitamin D levels have been associated in some studies with a reduced risk of such conditions as breast, prostate and ovarian cancers, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. These associations have not been proven conclusively. Further information on Vitamin D and human health is available at Pubmed.com, the site of the United States National Institutes of Health.  Additionally, Fabutan acknowledges that UV-B exposure does not stimulate the thyroid.”

Any representations linking moderate tanning with protection against sunburn must also specify that:

“A tan provides SPF protection in the range of 2-4. Health Canada recommends sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.”

Fabutan has agreed to pay an administrative monetary penalty of $62,500 and Mr. McNabb will make a donation of $12,500 to the Direct MS Charity of Alberta.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.

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