FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  January 27, 1988


 FTC CHARGES MARKETER OF SUNTANNING DEVICES FALSELY CLAIMED ITS
   PRODUCTS DO NOT INCREASE THE RISK OF SKIN CANCER OR AGING;
   CONSENT AGREEMENT PROHIBITS FALSE AND UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS


     The Federal Trade Commission has charged a major marketer of
artificial tanning devices with falsely claiming that its
products do not pose the risk of skin aging or skin damage,
including the risk of skin cancer.  A consent agreement issued
today for public comment prohibits The Silver Group Inc. from
misrepresenting the safety of its products.
     Silver sells tanning devices and related products, including
tanning beds, facial units, and overhead lamp systems.  The
company's tanning devices use lamps emitting ultraviolet
radiation to cause tanning of the user's skin.
     According to the FTC staff, Silver markets its products --
primarily under the trade name Silver Solarium -- to tanning
salons, health clubs, and beauty parlors as well as to
individuals.  Silver advertises its products in national
magazines, such as Gentleman's Quarterly, Playboy, and Shape, and
in fitness and beauty salon publications and airline in-flight
magazines.
     According to an FTC complaint issued with the consent
agreement, in its ads and in literature Silver made claims such
as:  "New way to tan indoors with absolutely no harmful side
effects associated with the sun."  Other ads claimed "Safer than
the sun!" and "Absolutely no burning, no drying and no sun
damage," the complaint stated.
     The complaint charged that these claims are false.  In
addition, the complaint charged, Silver falsely claimed it had
reliable scientific evidence for its claims.
     In fact, according to the complaint, Silver's products
cannot be used without the risk of any harmful side effect
associated with the sun, and their use can increase the risk of
developing skin cancer and can contribute to skin aging.
     The consent agreement prohibits the company from
misrepresenting, directly or by implication, that its devices do
not pose for users a risk of any harmful side effect associated
with sun exposure.
     In addition, the consent agreement requires the company to
have reliable and competent scientific evidence for any health or
safety claim it makes in any advertisement.
     For one year after the consent is made final, Silver must
include the following statement in any ads and promotional
materials for its tanning devices, "NOTICE -- Read the mandatory
FDA warning label found on every tanning machine for important
information on potential eye injury, skin cancer, skin aging and
photosensitive reactions."  After the first year, the company
must include that statement in any ads that claim its tanning
device is safe or safer than other devices or other methods of
tanning, or that the device has health benefits.

                             (More)
     Silver is based in San Francisco and is a subsidiary of
Silver Gruppen of Denmark.
     The consent agreement is scheduled to appear in the Federal
Register today.  It will be subject to public comment until March
28, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it
final.
     Comments should be addressed to the Office of the Secretary,
FTC, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.
     A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does
not constitute admission of a law violation.  When the Commission
issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of
law with respect to future actions.  Each violation of such an
order may result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
     Copies of the agreement, the complaint and an analysis of
the agreement are available from the FTC's Public Reference
Branch, Room 130, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502.

                              # # #


MEDIA CONTACT:  Dee Ellison, Office of Public Affairs, 202-326-
                2177

STAFF CONTACT:  C. Lee Peeler, Bureau of Consumer Protection,
                202-326-3090

FTC File No. 882 3013

[SilverGrp]