Canberra: Australia has proposed stricter regulations for sunscreen manufacturers following a major product safety scandal that raised concerns about the reliability of sun protection claims.
The proposed reforms aim to strengthen testing standards, improve product quality and ensure that sunscreen labels accurately reflect the level of protection offered to consumers. Announced by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the measures include enhanced testing and quality requirements for certain ingredients used in sunscreens.
The reforms are also intended to give the regulator quicker access to evidence when questions arise about a product’s safety or effectiveness. The move follows a June 2025 investigation by Australian consumer advocacy group Choice, which found that 16 of 20 tested sunscreens failed to deliver the sun protection factor (SPF) advertised on their labels. The affected products included several premium brands, raising concerns about the accuracy of product claims across the industry.
📣 We are progressing with the development of reforms to strengthen sunscreen regulation in Australia.
Read more: https://t.co/QozPLmWY0N https://t.co/48B95u2pfy
— TGA Australia (@TGAgovau) October 27, 2026
One of the most significant cases involved Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen Skinscreen, which was marketed as offering SPF 50+ protection but reportedly provided only SPF 4 in testing. The product was voluntarily recalled last year, while the wider controversy prompted more than a dozen sunscreen products to be withdrawn from shelves or have their sales suspended.
The TGA stated that the proposed reforms would make SPF claims more reliable and ensure that consumers can trust the protection levels displayed on product labels. The measures would require stronger testing of finished sunscreen products, alongside repeat testing throughout their time on the market.
Under the proposed rules, cosmetic products containing sunscreen will also face restrictions on the SPF claims they can make. The distinction is intended to help consumers differentiate between products primarily designed to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation and cosmetics in which sun protection serves a secondary purpose.
Manufacturers and suppliers may also be required to submit SPF testing data to the TGA when listing their products. The regulator remarked that the reforms would be introduced in stages, with additional consultation where necessary. Changes to sunscreen labelling will be considered following further review and consultation.
Choice welcomed the proposed measures, describing the stricter requirements as a positive step towards improving sunscreen safety. However, the consumer group called for greater transparency, arguing that testing results should be made publicly available rather than provided exclusively to the regulator. It also urged authorities to establish routine monitoring of test results in the interests of public safety.
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, making reliable sun protection particularly important. The proposed reforms represent an effort to restore consumer confidence in sunscreen products and strengthen oversight of an industry that plays a critical role in protecting public health.
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