Photomed Bundesfachverband Solarien und Besonnung

The Photomed Bundesfachverband Solarien und Besonnung — today generally known as the Bundesfachverband Besonnung e.V. (BfB) — is a German trade association for the artificial-tanning industry. It was founded on 30 November 1984 as "Photomed – Verband Photomedizin und Besonnung" and is headquartered in Seelbach, Germany. Its members are primarily operators of sunbed studios (Sonnenstudios), solarium retailers and service businesses in the tanning sector. Since the beginning of 2011, manufacturers, dealers and service providers of the industry have also been able to join the association. The association describes itself as having been the point of contact for questions relating to artificial tanning for more than 35 years. Its core purpose is the professionalisation of the sunbed industry: it operates and participates in institutions and events for the professional qualification of staff in sunbed studios, wellness businesses and the solarium trade. It also carries out public education work on the subject of artificial tanning and provides consumer-protection information for studio customers. According to Wikipedia, around 400 studio operators with 1,200 sunbed studios — out of a total of about 4,600 sunbed studios in Germany — are organised in the association, alongside solarium shops and service businesses. The association maintains a member studio finder, a buy-and-sell platform for studio operators seeking successors or additional studios, a member area with information material on the UV-Schutzverordnung (UV Protection Ordinance), press releases and podcasts. A key regulatory reference point for the association and its members is the UV-Schutzverordnung (UVSV), which has applied to all solarium operators in Germany since 1 January 2012. The BfB provides information and materials on the UVSV to its members and to consumers. In November 2010 the Photomed association merged with the Bundesfachverband Sonnenlicht-Systeme e.V. (SLS) to form the Bundesfachverband Besonnung e.V. (BfB). In March 2006 the members' assembly had already resolved to rename the organisation "Photomed Bundesfachverband für Solarien und Besonnung e.V.", reflecting its evolution from an interest group promoting artificial tanning into a professional body representing studio operators, including the solarium trade and services.

The organisation was founded on 30 November 1984 as "Photomed – Verband Photomedizin und Besonnung". In its early decades it functioned as an interest group promoting artificial tanning (künstliche Besonnung) in Germany. In March 2006 the members' assembly resolved to change the name to "Photomed Bundesfachverband für Solarien und Besonnung e.V." The renaming was intended to reflect the transformation from an interest community for the promotion of artificial tanning into a professional organisation (berufsständische Organisation) of sunbed studio operators, including the solarium trade and services. The Photomed association generally carried out educational work on the subject of artificial tanning. In November 2010 the Photomed association merged with the Bundesfachverband Sonnenlicht-Systeme e.V. (SLS) to form the Bundesfachverband Besonnung e.V. (BfB). With the beginning of 2011, manufacturers, dealers and service providers of the industry also became part of the association, broadening its membership beyond studio operators. A major regulatory development for the sector was the UV-Schutzverordnung (UV Protection Ordinance), which has applied to all solarium operators in Germany since 1 January 2012. The association provides information and materials on the UVSV to its members and to consumers, and the ordinance remains a central reference point in its work. According to Wikipedia, the association — formerly the Photomed association, now the Bundesfachverband Besonnung (BfB) — organises around 400 studio operators with 1,200 sunbed studios (out of a total of about 4,600 sunbed studios in Germany), solarium shops and service businesses. The association states that it has been the point of contact for artificial tanning for more than 35 years, and it continues to operate and participate in institutions and events for the professional qualification of staff in sunbed studios, wellness businesses and the solarium trade. It maintains a member studio finder, a buy-and-sell platform for studio operators, a member area with UVSV information material, press releases and podcasts, and it conducts consumer-protection information work for studio customers.

• Founded as "Photomed – Verband Photomedizin und Besonnung".

• Members' assembly resolved to rename the organisation "Photomed Bundesfachverband für Solarien und Besonnung e.V."

• Merged with Bundesfachverband Sonnenlicht-Systeme e.V. (SLS) to form Bundesfachverband Besonnung e.V. (BfB).

• Manufacturers, dealers and service providers of the industry became eligible to join the association.

• The UV-Schutzverordnung (UVSV) came into force for all solarium operators in Germany.

• Webinar recordings from 15–29 January 2025 made available.

Professional and advocacy body for the German artificial-tanning industry, focused on professionalisation, staff qualification and consumer protection.

• UVSV information material for BfB members

  Information material on the UV-Schutzverordnung provided in the members' area.

• Member studio finder

  A directory of member sunbed studios searchable by location.

• Buy-and-sell platform for studio operators

  A platform where studio operators can find successors or buy additional studios.

• Webinar recordings and professional qualification events

  Recordings of webinars and events for the professional qualification of staff.

1. 1Home :: für Sonnenstudiobetreiberbundesfachverband-besonnung.de
2. 2Bundesfachverband Besonnung – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Photomed Bundesfachverband Solarien und Besonnung – Wikidatawikidata.org