L’interdiction de la vente d’appareils de bronzage aux particuliers en France est toujours théorique en raison d’un blocage de l’Union européenne. En effet, les appareils de bronzage, considérés comme des cancérogènes avérés, tombent sous le coup d’une autre réglementation européenne. Les données scientifiques et sanitaires sont formelles : le bronzage artificiel présente de nombreux risques pour la santé, notamment de développer un cancer de la peau. Pourtant, de nombreuses idées reçues sur les bienfaits des UV artificiels persistent, comme le fait de préparer la peau au soleil de l’été. En France, 1,5% de la population a réalisé des séances de bronzage en cabine en 2015, malgré l’interdiction en vigueur.

Il est parfois difficile d’accepter qu’une pratique ou un produit soit autorisé malgré son caractère inutile voire dangereux. Et pourtant, notre société est remplie d’exemples de choses qui sont tolérées et même encouragées malgré les risques qu’elles présentent. De la consommation excessive de sucre aux médicaments sur-prescrits en passant par les gadgets inutiles, il est intéressant d’explorer ce paradoxe qui peut entraîner des conséquences catastrophiques pour notre santé, notre environnement ou encore notre économie. Dans cet article, nous examinerons certaines de ces pratiques et tentons de comprendre pourquoi elles continuent d’être autorisées malgré les dégâts qu’elles peuvent causer.


Since January 26, 2016, the sale of tanning beds to individuals has been banned in France due to the health risks that have been established for years, and the fact that artificial ultraviolet radiation is classed as a carcinogenic agent by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organisation. However, by law, the ban is only theoretical as the implementation modalities are yet to be determined by decree. In response to a recent proposal from the French ministries of health and consumer affairs, the European Commission has sent France a negative opinion on the project, based on technical regulations which rules that tanning beds are covered by another European directive called “Low Voltage”. Due to the complex interactions between European normalisation and regulation, the European Union may block a national regulation project if it is likely to create an obstacle to the free movement of goods. This is what happened regarding the French decree on tanning beds. The arguments put forward by the Commission include the fact that tanning beds strictly respect the Low Voltage Directive and that any material conforming to those requirements circulate freely within the European Union. Despite the proven risks to health posed by sunbeds, many still believe the common misconceptions that a few sessions prepare the skin for the summer sun, and that they are not as harmful as exposure to natural sunlight. Tanning beds were classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the IARC in 2009, with the risk of developing melanoma increasing proportionally to the frequency and duration of sunbed use. In France, despite the ban, 83% of melanoma is attributable to excessive sun exposure, as opposed to only 3% to sunbed use, which however still represents 1.5% of French minors. Following Brazil’s example in 2009, which was the first country to completely ban the use of sunbeds, others have followed suit. The Australian state of Victoria in 2005, New South Wales in 2015 and all states in Australia since January 1, 2016 have prohibited the commercial tanning bed practice.