Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014

Test purchasing

18. (1) An authorised officer may, in the course of his or her duty as such officer and in accordance with guidelines issued under subsection (2), send a person who is at least 15 years of age but under 18 years of age into a sunbed premises for the purpose of the person using, purchasing or hiring a sunbed on those premises if but only if—

(a) the parent or guardian of the person has consented, in writing, to him or her being sent into those premises for that purpose, and

(b) the authorised officer is satisfied that all reasonable steps have been or will be taken to avoid harm to the welfare of the person.

(2) The Minister shall, after consulting with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, from time to time issue guidelines in respect of the procedures to be followed with respect to the practical operation of this section, including guidelines as to—

(a) prohibiting any active instigation of a contravention of this Act such as a false representation, whether made orally or by means of the production of any document, that a person is over the age of 18 years, and

(b) the basis on which sunbed premises will be selected for the purposes of the application of this section, whether by reference to the location of the premises, complaints received by the Executive concerning the premises, the number of reports of possible contraventions of this Act relating to the premises or the clientele attracted to the premises.