Victoria, B.C. – The new law banning youth under the age of 18 from using tanning beds came into effect today.

The new law carries a penalty of $345.00 for each offence for operators who allow those under the legal age to use the facilities.

The law was put into place earlier this year after the World Health Organization found that indoor tanning before the age of 35 raises the risk of melanoma by 75%. Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada and yet is also one of the most preventable.

The BC Cancer Agency estimates that 966 BC residents will be diagnosed with this type of cancer this year, and 150 will die from it.