Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008

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Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008
Act of the Scottish Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom in Scotland (Variant 1).svg
Scottish Parliament
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.

Contents

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

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 "Under-18 sunbed ban in Scotland". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  6. ↑ 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.
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