Nick Smith MP, Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney, joined colleagues in Westminster for the launch of a landmark report calling for a radical shift in the UK’s approach to ultraviolet (UV) radiation safety.
The report, “A Preventable Crisis: The Case for a National UV Safety Strategy,” was published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Beauty, Hair & Wellbeing following a year-long inquiry. It warns that the UK currently lacks a cohesive strategy to mitigate the impact of UV radiation—a Group 1 carcinogen—at a time when melanoma cases are projected to rise by 9% by 2038.
Nick Smith MP is supporting the report’s key recommendations, which include:
● Abolishing the “Sunscreen Tax”: Reducing VAT on children’s sunscreen (SPF 30+) to 0% and adult sunscreen to 5%, reclassifying it as essential preventative healthcare.
● Mandatory Sunbed Regulation: Introducing tobacco-style graphic health warnings on sunbeds and banning all sunbed advertising.
● Workplace Protection: Classifying UV radiation as an occupational hazard, requiring employers to provide sun protection as compulsory PPE for outdoor workers.
● Education Reform: Implementing mandatory UV safety education in primary and secondary schools.
Speaking after the launch, Nick Smith MP said: “With 86% of melanoma cases being entirely preventable, we cannot afford to treat sun protection as a luxury or a seasonal concern. In Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney, I want to ensure that families can afford sunscreen and that outdoor workers are properly protected. This report provides the roadmap we need to save lives and reduce the £750 million annual cost of skin cancer to the NHS.”
The inquiry, chaired by Carolyn Harris MP, highlighted that 31% of parents currently admit they cannot always afford sun protection for their whole family. Experts estimate that every £1 given up in VAT revenue by zero-rating sunscreen would return £2.47 in NHS savings by 2033.
Carolyn Harris MP, Chair of the APPG, added: “We must stop short-term thinking about sun protection… We are calling on the Government to lead a sustained, national campaign—built on cross-party consensus—that mirrors the 40-year success of Australia’s ‘Slip, Slop, Slap!’ initiative”.
