Australia is taking serious steps to strengthen sunscreen testing after a scandal revealed that several brands provided skin protection levels below what their labels claimed. Some brands advertised SPF 50+, but tests showed protection as low as SPF 4.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced on Tuesday a proposal to tighten regulations governing sunscreen manufacturers by adding requirements for testing and quality control of certain ingredients to ensure that the sun protection factor (SPF) indicated on labels is more trustworthy.
Robin Langham, TGA's chief medical adviser, told BBC News that the new measures aim to make SPF claims more reliable and help authorities access evidence more quickly when concerns about products arise.
Langham stated that Australians expect SPF labels to be supported by credible test data. The proposal will increase the rigor of testing finished products available on the market, including repeated testing throughout the product’s shelf life.
Additionally, TGA proposes limiting SPF claims on cosmetic sunscreen products to help consumers clearly distinguish between products primarily intended for UV protection and cosmetics that include UV protection as a secondary feature.
This scandal erupted after consumer group Choice released a report last year revealing that some popular sunscreens failed to protect skin at the levels claimed by their manufacturers.
One scrutinized product was Ultra Violette's Lean Screen Skinscreen, which the manufacturer voluntarily recalled last year after tests showed that a product advertised as SPF 50+ provided only SPF 4 protection. This incident sparked widespread criticism in Australia, which has the world’s highest skin cancer rates, leading to more than a dozen products being removed or suspended from sale.
Earlier this year, TGA proposed a major reform of the sunscreen industry including making labels easier to understand and increasing oversight of laboratories testing these products. However, the latest statement said label changes would proceed only after further review and consultation.
Choice welcomed the proposed tightening but noted significant gaps remain, as TGA has yet to propose consistent follow-up and evaluation of test results over time.
The consumer group also demands that sunscreen test results be publicly disclosed, not just submitted to TGA, and calls for continuous monitoring to enhance transparency and protect consumer safety.
Source:BBC
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