Australia Moves to Strengthen Sunscreen Regulations Amid Scandal

Thu Mar 26 2026 11:44:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In response to a recent scandal involving ineffective sunscreens, Australia is set to implement new regulations aimed at improving product testing and consumer trust.

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is proposing major reforms to sunscreen regulations following the revelation that many products failed to provide the sun protection they claimed. The reforms include improving laboratory oversight, simplifying labeling, and enhancing testing requirements to ensure consumer safety in a nation with one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia is pushing for comprehensive reforms to sunscreen regulations after a recent scandal led to numerous popular brands being removed from store shelves.

Last year, a trusted consumer advocacy group uncovered troubling findings that many sunscreens in Australia were not offering the protection they advertised. This sparked widespread public outrage in a country where skin cancer is a significant health concern.

Further investigations revealed serious issues with a major laboratory responsible for testing sunscreen efficacy and a manufacturer of a base formula used in many products. The TGA has since announced plans to simplify sunscreen labeling and increase oversight of testing laboratories.

According to Andy Kelly from the consumer group Choice, “Proposals to improve and expand testing requirements and increase transparency will help restore consumer trust in the reliability of SPF claims.”

Each year, approximately 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer or melanoma, and it is estimated that two out of three Australians will have at least one skin cancer removed in their lifetime.

Currently, sunscreens are categorized as medicines and are primarily monitored after they are on the market, rather than undergoing rigorous pre-market assessments.

Despite having some of the world's strictest sunscreen regulations, the TGA indicated the necessity for an overhaul to address these issues effectively.

The proposed changes will focus on enhancing the transparency and reliability of sun protection factor (SPF) testing, along with scrutinizing the quality and efficacy of ingredients and formulas, particularly for cosmetic sunscreens that claim high sun protection.

Additionally, the labeling system will undergo a review, with suggestions to replace the current SPF number rating with simple categorizations like low, medium, high, and very high.

Notably, the review will not include the safety of sunscreen ingredients or products designed specifically for children.

This overhaul follows a report from Choice that discovered 16 out of the 20 tested sunscreens, including premium brands, did not meet their advertised SPF ratings. One case involved a product that claimed an SPF rating of 50+, but testing showed it had an SPF of only four, prompting a voluntary recall.

The TGA's investigation raised significant concerns about SPF testing for nearly two dozen products sharing the same base formula as the faulty sunscreen.

While choice advocates call for more accurate labeling, some experts stress that the current SPF rating system's variability presents challenges. Cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong remarked, “Some of the SPF testing has become more of a marketing exercise than a real reflection of efficacy.”

Despite these complexities, other studies found that 95% of sunscreens tested had adequate SPF levels to significantly decrease the risk of skin cancer.