Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008
| Act of the Scottish Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to restate and amend the law on public health; to make provision about mortuaries and the disposal of bodies; to enable the Scottish Ministers to implement their obligations under the International Health Regulations; to make provision relating to the use, sale or hire of sunbeds; to amend the law on statutory nuisances; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2008 asp 5 |
| Introduced by | Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 July 2008 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Parliament | |
| Text of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 is an act of the Scottish Parliament relating to public health in Scotland.
Background
In 2006, Labour MSP Ken McIntosh proposed a private member's bill which placed a ban on the use of sunbeds by children.[1]
Before the legislation was passed, only children under the age of 16 were banned from using sunbeds.[2]
Provisions
The act is "framework legislation".[3]
The act contains provisions equivalent to the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and replaced the Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897.[3][4]
The act allows Scottish ministers to use Scottish statutory instruments in relation to international travel regulations and can be used for some domestic health protection regulations.[3]
The act bans the use of sunbeds by individuals under the age of 18.[5] The operation of coin-operated sunbeds is also prohibited.[5]
Health boards are required to manage mortuaries.[6]
Reception
The Sunbed Association described the provisions relating to sunbeds as lacking in medical or scientific evidence.[2]
References
- ^ "Children face sunbed ban over cancer risk from tan salons Doctors back regulation calls in bid to tackle epidemic". The Herald. 2 May 2006. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ a b Sample, Ian (18 September 2008). "Doctors call for ban on sunbed use by under-18s". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Beatson, Jack; Farrell, Anne-Maree; Feldman, David; Fox, Ruth; Grogan, Joelle; Hickman, Tom; Hussey, Ruth; King, Jeff; de Londras, Fiona (15 May 2024). Report of the Independent Commission on UK Public Health Emergency Powers. London: Independent Commission on UK Public Health Emergency Powers.
- ^ Tickell, Andrew; Britton, Alison (1 January 2024). "Towards an "all hazards" approach at last? Scottish public health law before, during and after Covid-19". Public Law (1): 19–29. ISSN 0033-3565.
- ^ a b "Under-18 sunbed ban in Scotland". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ Gibson, Ken (16 February 2025). "Crown Office to manage post-mortems in Aberdeen". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.