Australian Sunscreens Face Stricter Rules After SPF Scandal
Australia is planning stricter rules for sunscreen makers after tests found that many popular products did not provide the level of sun protection promised on their labels.
The new rules were announced on Tuesday by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the agency responsible for checking the safety of medicines and health products.
The changes follow a report published in June 2025 by consumer group CHOICE. The report tested 20 sunscreens and found that 16 did not meet their advertised sun protection factor, known as SPF. Some of the products were expensive brands.
One of the most shocking results involved Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen Skinscreen. The product was sold with an SPF rating of 50+, but testing found that it provided only SPF 4. The company voluntarily recalled the product last year.
The findings caused widespread anger in Australia, where skin cancer rates are the highest in the world. More than a dozen sunscreen products were removed from shops or had their sales stopped following the controversy.
Under the proposed rules, sunscreen companies would have to provide evidence of their SPF test results to the TGA when registering their products. They would also need to test their products again at regular times throughout their shelf life.
At present, companies do not have to give the regulator their testing results unless they are asked to do so.
The changes are designed to make sure that the protection promised on a sunscreen label matches the protection the product actually provides.
Robyn Langham, the TGA’s chief medical adviser, said the proposed rules would make SPF claims more trustworthy and help the agency get evidence more quickly when problems arise.
She said Australians should be able to trust that the SPF number printed on a sunscreen bottle is supported by strong testing.
The proposed changes would also limit the SPF claims that cosmetic products can make. This would help shoppers tell the difference between products mainly designed to protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays and cosmetics where sun protection is an additional feature.
The TGA says the new rules will be introduced in stages. More discussions may take place before some changes are finalised.
The agency had already suggested wider changes to sunscreen rules earlier this year. These included making labels easier to understand and increasing checks on testing laboratories. Further reviews and discussions will take place before changes to labels are introduced.
CHOICE welcomed the latest proposals, saying it was pleased to see plans for stronger rules.
However, the group said more action was needed. It wants the TGA to regularly check and review sunscreen test results instead of simply collecting them.
CHOICE also believes test results should be made available to the public, rather than only being sent to the regulator. The group says greater openness and regular checks would help protect consumers.
The sunscreen scandal has raised serious questions about how products are tested and checked before and after they reach shops. The proposed rules aim to improve confidence in sunscreen, but consumer advocates say regular monitoring and public access to test results will also be important.