VAT on sunbed sessions needs to be increased – Noone

Dublin Senator Catherine Noone has called for an increase in the VAT on sunbed sessions.
Senator Noone said: “Under the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 – sunbed sessions are currently allocated a reduced VAT rate as it is deemed a service consisting of ‘care of the human body’. It is ranked alongside beauty treatments, yoga and nail salons – while paradoxically, the standard 23% VAT rate is applied to sunscreen.
“The concept of sunbed sessions coming under the category of ‘care of the human body’ is beyond ridiculous. There is strong scientific evidence of the link between skin cancer and sunbed use. In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified sunbeds as ‘carcinogenic’ to humans, in the same category as plutonium and tobacco.
“A recent IPSOS MRBI poll by The Irish Cancer Society shows that 150,000 people in Ireland used a sunbed in the last year, with 36,000 of them using a sunbed once a week. Moreover, the survey revealed a worrying increase in the volume of young people using sunbeds.
“As such, I am strongly support The Irish Cancer Society’s call to increase the VAT rate on sunbed sessions from 13.5% to the standard VAT rate of 23% in Budget 2018.”