The Medical Society of P.E.I. and the Canadian Cancer Society are still waiting for the province to move on legislation for tanning beds, and they say guidelines aren't enough.

'Don't put all this on the salon owners. Don't blame them.'— Kathy Tweel, salon owner

P.E.I. has the highest rate of melanoma in the country, and in July 2009 the World Health Organization published a report placing tanning beds in the same category as tobacco for cancer risk.

That report prompted a call for legislation from the P.E.I. division of the Canadian Cancer Society. It wanted the use of tanning beds by people under 18 banned.

Provincial Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said the beds would be a part of a review of the Public Health Act that was going on at that time.

In September, the Medical Society of P.E.I. voted unanimously that the province should increase regulation of the beds.

Almost a year has gone by, and there have been no moves from the province.

The World Health Organization says one use of a tanning bed before the age of 30 increases the risk of melanoma by up to 75 per cent.

- A Review of Human Carcinogens, The Lancet

"We're still in a review process," acting chief health officer Dr. Jeff Scott told CBC News Tuesday.

"We're looking to see what is being implemented in other jurisdictions, for example like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick."

New Brunswick is implementing voluntary guidelines that will ask salon owners to turn away anyone under 18 years old.

Dawn Binns, executive director of the cancer society on P.E.I., said guidelines like the ones in New Brunswick aren't good enough.

"Until it's truly regulated there's no way to know for sure if it's being followed," said Binns.

"How do we make sure we're protecting our youth from those harmful rays? We have to have enforcement."

Binns said there should be fines for salons that don't follow the rules.

Kathy Tweel owns a tanning salon in Charlottetown, and she doesn't believe the salons should be held entirely responsible.

"I think some of it has to be left up to the parents to make those decisions," said Tweel.

"Don't put all this on the salon owners. Don't blame them, [saying] that these tanning beds and cancer are their fault."

Scott said a law isn't out of the question, but it will take some time before the province is ready to take any action.