A government audit of solariums in New South Wales has found almost none of them are following new laws.

The audit, conducted between September and November of last year, has found that 87 out of 89 solariums failed to comply with the new, stricter regulations.

Under the amendments to the Radiation Control Act introduced in May, children under 18 and people with fair skin are prohibited from using solariums.

Operators are also required to display warnings about the risks of radiation exposure and limit people's usage.

Assistant Health Minister Frank Sartor says the level of compliance is appalling.

Last year's audit also found the number of operators in New South Wales dropped by 30 per cent after the regulations were introduced.

The Australasian Solarium Association says that if tanning bed operators are not following regulations then they should be shut down.

Mark Koenneman from the association says he cannot believe the figures and if Solariums are not following the rules they should be shut down.

"I would say that the majority of the solariums out there are doing the right thing and that's why they're still operating," he said.

"If they're not operating and they're not doing the right thing, then they should be jumped on, we support that."