Since 1997, France has pursued a strategy aimed at limiting the health risks associated with artificial ultraviolet radiation, by legislating on the practice of artificial tanning (decrees of 1997 and 2013). National experts warn that UV radiation cannot be considered safe, whatever the frequency of exposure or the dose received, from first use, and that — on the basis of current knowledge — the risk/benefit ratio of repeated exposure to the artificial UV radiation emitted by tanning devices can only be negative and against this radiation (French National Cancer Institute). In 2015, it was estimated that new cases of skin melanoma had risen over the previous five years to 14 325 per year (compared to 9 780 in 2011), resulting in 1 773 deaths (compared to 1 620 in 2011).

This draft decree, issued pursuant to Article 21 of Law No 2016-41 of 26 January 2016 on the modernisation of our health system [Loi de modernisation de notre système de santé – LMSS], amends the provisions of Decree No 2013-1261 of 27/12/2013, which was the subject of Notification No 2013/056/F to the European Commission under Directive 98/34/EC. In the interests of protecting and securing public health, this draft decree sets out a number of provisions relating to technical standards: