WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Food and Drug Administration withdrew a proposed rule on March 18, 2026, that would have barred all Americans under age 18 from using tanning beds. The notice of withdrawal was signed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The proposed federal rule, first proposed in 2015, aimed to prevent minors from using indoor sunlamps or tanning beds. The proposed rule would have required anyone over age 18 using a tanning salon to sign a waiver acknowledging risks including skin cancer and severe burns.

The FDA received more than 8,100 comments on the proposed rule from entities including industry associations, medical and healthcare professional associations, law firms, cancer advocacy groups and other interested parties. Some commenters supported personal choice and parental decision-making regarding who is old enough to be exposed to UV radiation from sunlamp products, while others expressed concern about the vulnerability of young people to the risks of sunlamp products and compliance burdens on small businesses.

The American Suntanning Association, which represents tanning salons, said in a statement: "The American Suntanning Association is pleased that FDA has withdrawn this 10-year-old proposed rule."

Dr. Susan Taylor, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, which lobbied for the proposed rule, expressed opposition to the withdrawal. "We know that ultraviolet radiation, either through the sun or sunlamps, increases risk for cancer," Taylor said. "Not everyone is going to read what is on the outside of the tanning bed, so for the protection of our citizens, we need federal rules."

"Withdrawal of the proposed restrictions does not mean that exposure to UV radiation does not cause skin cancer," an FDA spokesperson said via email. "The FDA encourages users of sunlamp products to discuss the potential risks with their physician before using sunlamp products."

Several states currently ban the use of tanning beds by minors, including California, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and Washington, D.C. Some states allow minors to use tanning beds with parental consent.

The FDA regulates sunlamps and tanning beds as class II medical devices and requires them to include a black-box warning stating they should not be used by anyone younger than 18. In states without legal restrictions on tanning bed use by minors, the FDA's age warning on sunlamp products is not legally enforceable.

Tanning beds can emit up to 15 times the amount of ultraviolet radiation compared to direct sunrays. Using tanning beds before age 20 can increase the risk of developing melanoma by nearly 50%, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. A 2025 study found that melanoma rates among people who used tanning beds were about 5%, compared to about 2% among those who did not. The notice of withdrawal stated that the FDA continues to consider regulatory initiatives related to sunlamp products.