Australians are being urged to keep slapping on sunscreen, but the nation's medicines watchdog has warned that many brands may soon need to reformulate.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has conducted a review of sunscreen ingredients used in Australia and has recommended extra safeguards for three chemicals often found in sun-blocking products.
"The TGA review proposes that some sunscreen products containing the active ingredients homosalate and oxybenzone, as well as the degradant benzophenone, be reformulated to ensure sunscreens meet the highest standards of safety for prolonged and frequent use," it said in a statement.
Is sunscreen still safe?
The TGA said it would start a "comprehensive public and stakeholder consultation" period to determine the level at which these ingredients are suitable for use in Australian sunscreens.
The review recommends manufacturers reformulate any sunscreens that push these ingredients above the limits — which have not yet been set — so consumers can keep using them daily without concern.
The TGA has stressed that no products are being recalled and that "all sunscreens available in Australia are safe", but that the extra safeguards will bring local standards in line with new overseas evidence.
"Australians should keep using sunscreen alongside hats, shade and protective clothing because the risk of skin cancer still outweighs any known chemical concerns," it said.
The TGA added that Australia records about 2,000 skin‑cancer deaths a year, and that sunscreen is a frontline defence.
Why now?
The fresh action follows a Choice investigation in June that suggested several lotions from Bondi Sands, Banana Boat and the Cancer Council, among others, were delivering less UV protection than promised on the label.
Choice tested 20 products and found only four met the advertised ratings.
One sunscreen that was tested, which claimed to be SPF50+, Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen, returned an SPF of four.
Many of the companies defended their products, with Ultra Violette saying it did not accept the results of its tested product as "even remotely accurate" and questioning the methodology of the test.
Cancer Council Australia said it was "very concerned" by the findings but stood by its own test results. Banana Boat said its sunscreens met the requirements set out by the TGA, while others, including Bondi Sands, said they disagreed with the Choice assessment.
In its statement following the Choice review, the TGA said it was looking into the findings and would "take regulatory action as required" if claims are found to be misleading.
