The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) wants stricter testing requirements for sunscreen brands.
Last year, testing showed some products did not deliver the sun protection promised on their labels.
Under proposed changes, companies would have to submit SPF testing results to the TGA before their products go on sale, with further testing potentially required throughout their shelf life.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Sun protection factor (SPF) is the rating given to products that provide a level of protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun.
Broad-spectrum sunscreens block UVA and UVB rays, which can damage skin cells and cause skin cancer.
Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world, with one person diagnosed every 30 minutes.
In 2025, consumer group Choice found several Australian sunscreens marked as SPF 50 didn’t offer that level of protection.
Several products were recalled after the study, including Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen, which tested at SPF 4.
New rules
Following Choice’s investigation, the TGA proposed recommendations to improve sunscreen regulation, including more reliable testing, clearer labelling and stronger lab monitoring.
This week, the TGA announced it would develop reforms to address these key concerns.
The suggested changes include testing the SPF protection of a final product, rather than its base formula, and retesting SPF claims over time.
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Testing
Currently, sunscreen strength is tested by human volunteers, who expose patches of their skin to UV light, with and without sunscreen.
The effectiveness of a product is determined by the redness of skin after UV exposure.
Scientists also assess how long a person could be out in the sun while wearing the product before burning.
Effectiveness
Under the proposed reforms, products could be tested on artificial surfaces as well as, or instead of, on human skin.
The TGA has flagged variability issues in current human testing, and suggested artificial testing methods are more efficient, ethical, consistent, and cost-effective.
The regulator has also proposed an accreditation process to ensure more reliable results.
What’s next?
The TGA said the proposed reforms for sunscreen products will “take time to develop”.
Some will also require parliamentary consideration, including the artificial testing changes.
Choice Director of Consumer Impact Andy Kelly welcomed the announcement, but noted that “the TGA is not proposing to routinely monitor and evaluate test results”.
He added that the results should not be confidential, but rather “made available to everyone.”
