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American Suntanning Association Update The American Suntanning Association will continue to defend the professional indoor tanning salon industry against unfair regulations at the federal and state level in 2014. Last year, the ASA fought 34 state regulatory battles and met with Washington politicians more than a dozen times lobbying against the FDA device reclassification, the Centers for Disease Control and Surgeon General's Report and to repeal the 10 percent federal excise tax. Below is an outline of our plans regarding the challenges that we know we will be faced with in the coming year. For more detailed information about our efforts, please contact the ASA at info@americansuntanning.org. resources than it is a fund raising mechanism as was intended. The Prevent CDC and Surgeon General Warning In nearly three dozen state capitol buildings in 2013, the ASA worked with industry champions and professional lobbying teams to deliver a consistent message: There is nuance to a proper sun care message that the industry's opponents are ignoring. In the latter part of 2013, the ASA began spearheading the effort to persuade the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to meet with ASA scientists before proceeding with a report intended to convince the U.S. Surgeon General to release a public statement on UV and skin cancer. In 2014, we will continue to demand that the CDC provides an open and fair process regarding this matter. We will continue to work with Capitol Hill to ensure that the totality of research is being properly considered and that the benefits of UV light are considered in any study published by the CDC. Prevent FDA Device Reclassification Another enduring focus in 2014 will be the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's proposed order to reclassify tanning equipment as Class 2 medical devices and amend warning labels to include a statement about minors. The ASA will continue to educate congressional members to urge the FDA to work with the indoor tanning industry on this matter. Several letters by key congressional members have directed the FDA to utilize a fair and balanced approach when evaluating regulations that will impact indoor tanning businesses. The ASA will continue to travel to Washington on a regular basis to keep tabs on the FDA issue and to work with more and more members of congress. With no current data available for the past several years, it is fair to say that this tax was totally misguided. The ASA is working through bi-partisan support to attempt to right this very big wrong and get this tax repealed. We will continue to educate members of Congress and push them to gather information from the IRS that will display the misguided nature of the tax. Manage Teen Tan Ban Legislation "Melanoma researcher and professor of dermatology Dr. Jonathon Rees from Newcastle University once wrote that melanoma is an example of politics and science becoming tragically intertwined and that an amicable separation is required. That's because melanoma is more common in indoor workers than it is in outdoor workers, according to the World Health Organization. It is much more common in men than in women. It is increasing much faster in older men than it is in younger women. And it's most common on parts of the body that don't get regular UV exposure," ASA scientific advisor Joseph Levy told legislators in two dozen states in 2013. "The proponents of restricting access to sunbeds have not effectively respected that crucial aspect of the science. It is part of the nuance of sun care that is missing in their overall campaign. And while we ALL agree on sunburn prevention, this important caveat about practical sun care is our biggest source of disagreement. And that's the problem. That's what Rees was talking about." Repeal 10-Percent Tan Tax The ASA has built and continually updated a comprehensive information kit to back up the industry's positions, and has put it in the hands of policymakers nationwide through one-on-one meetings and in legislative hearings. The ASA will also continue to push to repeal the 10 percent federal Tan Tax legislation, based on an abundance of evidence that shows that collecting the tax has become a bigger drain on government In 2014, the ASA will continue to build on efforts to work constructively with legislators and state officials who want to explore real-world, scientifically based solutions to sun care health policy. 31 ❘ SMART TAN MAGAZINE ❘ SmartTan.com