Why We Support American Suntanning Association

The American Suntanning Association is a values-based coalition of companies that understand that the future of the professional tanning market means promoting effective sun-care and our services correctly.

And, I can tell you first-hand that ASA has not only been extremely effective in working constructively with state and local regulators and legislators, but has done so in a way that places this market as part of the solution moving forward. In other words, ASA is doing the right things the right way.

ASA is working to make sure that the indoor tanning market’s foundation is strong for where we’re headed.

Consider:

• ASA is staying ahead of attempts to over-regulate professional indoor tanning facilities at the state and federal level in 2024. And to do so, they’re working with partners worldwide like JW North America.
• Since 2015, ASA has worked with product suppliers to work constructively with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on the agency’s proposals to re-tool FDA-proposed regulation of sunlamp products. FDA has delayed finalization of those proposed rules a dozen times since 2016, and most recently called for the rules to be completed this spring. As president of a manufacturer that works first-hand with the FDA, I’ve been personally involved in this effort. The ASA board and staff have done an amazing job of putting our market in the best possible position in addressing how these rule proposals are handled.
• Once again in 2024, ASA worked to prevent legislative proposals to enact under-21 sunbed restrictions from moving forward anywhere in America.
• Again this year, ASA has successfully prevented under-18 sunbed restriction legislation from advancing in several legislatures – gaining bi-partisan support in many states for the scientifically supported position that sunburn prevention is not advanced by restricting access to professional sunbeds.
• Also this year, ASA once again halted legislative talk to restrict spray-tanning services for persons under 18 years old.
• ASA convinced a state regulatory agency to abandon an effort this year to limit the number of salon sunbed sessions to 1-2 per week.
• In many cases, ASA convinced would-be bill sponsors not to even introduce bills after seeing the science that does not support that approach. Some of our victories involved tax bills and other issues.

There are other accomplishments; and it’s likely you haven’t heard about many of them. Aside from the 130+ legislative victories you have heard about, there are so many examples of potential issues ASA has prevented from ever even coming up.

That’s what JWNA wants from a professional trade association and why I’ve been proud to work with the ASA Board, and ASA Executive Director Joe Levy.

We’re all aware of the challenges the professional sunbed community faces from those who do not understand that the goal should be sunburn prevention – not sun avoidance. But ASA is working to make sure that the indoor tanning market’s foundation is strong for where we’re headed.