Leading Victorian modelling agencies yesterday committed to a ''no sunbed'' policy to raise awareness of the dangers of solarium use and to support SunSmart's call to ban sunbeds in Victoria.

The pledge is similar to the one undertaken by modelling agencies before London Fashion Week in February, and follows the New South Wales government's announcement last month that it will ban solariums in that state by the end of 2014.

SunSmart manager Sue Heward said the agencies' commitment to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on sunbed use was important given the power of the fashion industry.

''You can't underestimate the power of the fashion industry, particularly when it comes to influencing women and young people,'' she said. ''What this commitment by the agencies is saying is they don't support that tanned look coming from a solarium.''

Research shows that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75 per cent. A recent Australian study also estimated that one in six melanomas in young Australians, aged 18 to 29, would be prevented if solariums were shut down.

Matthew Anderson, director of Chadwick Models, says sunbeds are well and truly out of fashion within the modelling industry, replaced by spray tans.

''We have discouraged our models from using sunbeds for many years now,'' he said. ''If a client requires a tanned model, particularly for swimwear shoots or for summer campaigns that are shot in winter, we advise they get a spray tan but never, ever a solarium.''