Ministers are preparing to clamp down on the cosmetic tanning industry after the announcements and a number of high profile incidents relating to the dangers of misuse of sun beds have also featured in national newspapers.

The "Sun Bed Summit" invites senior licensing officers and environmental health officers from across the Nottinghamshire County to meet and discuss ways in which the current issues could be addressed.

The timing of all this is significant as the group working on behalf of the World Health Organization: the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has moved sun beds (UV tanning equipment) up to the highest cancer risk category - 'carcinogenic to humans' (group 1).

It is the responsibility of local councils to license sun bed salons so it makes sense to draw on expertise from across Nottinghamshire to tackle the problem. The joint working project will enabled councils to respond quickly to review existing arrangements and develop a new application form and licence conditions. The new arrangements provide a clear regulatory framework with an emphasis on safe and sensible UV tanning.

A consultation is planned to take place between November and January with all those involved in the industry and this will be followed by new guidelines coming into force in April 2010.