Australia plans stricter testing behind sunscreen SPF numbers
Cassandra CampbellEditor
On October 27, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration proposed new rules after consumer group CHOICE found 16 of 20 sunscreens it tested didn't meet their SPF claims. Brands would have to test the finished product, not just the base formula, send results to the regulator before listing, keep testing after launch, and use accredited labs. No start dates are set. CHOICE wants the results made public and the regulator to run its own checks.
Why it matters
An SPF number is only as good as the test behind it. This is a regulator rewriting the rules after outside testing found the gaps, and it's a useful reminder that the number on the tube is the brand's claim.
The story so far
The TGA announces its proposed sunscreen testing reforms.