Decision on sun screens praised

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 20

Decision on sun screens praised

PA Nelson The New Zealand Dermatological Society has welcomed the decision of the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, to exempt some sunscreen products from sales tax. Mr Malcolm has announced that some sun screens will be placed on the drug tariff, which means that they can be obtained free on prescription. The sales tax will be also exempted from these products sold across the counter at chemists. The secretary of the Dermatological Society, Dr Peter Sears, said he was “thoroughly delighted with the decision.” Sun-screen products had been subjected to a 40 per cent sales tax and the society had campaigned for exemption for high-quality sun screens. Dr Sears said the society did not want the sales tax to be removed across the board. “There is no point in using anything but the best,” he said. The society has been concerned about the sales tax on the most effective sun screens because of the high incidence of skin cancer in New Zealand. Figures collated by the president of the Dermatological Society, Dr Miles Hursthouse, also suggest the nation has one of the highest rates of malignant moles in the world.