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Sunscreens sold in Australia will be allowed to display a new Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of up to 50+, providing better broad spectrum protection from UVA – the portion of the sun’s UV radiation that causes melanomas and other skin cancers.
From today sunscreens sold in Australia will be allowed to display a new Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of up to 50+, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, has announced.
“These new products will be required to have better broad spectrum protection from UVA – the portion of the sun’s UV radiation that causes melanomas and other skin cancers,” Ms King said.
“Consumers will have a greater choice of sun protection products but while SPF 50+ sunscreens will provide better broad spectrum performance, this does not mean you are completely protected from the harmful effects of the sun. You still have to be Sun Smart.
“You will still need to apply SPF50+ sunscreen just as liberally as SPF 30+ and re-apply liberally every 2 hours.”
The new standard recognises that there have been significant developments in sunscreen technology in recent years that allows manufacturers to produce and test sunscreens with higher level SPF ratings.
The change brings Australia into line with the United States, some European countries and New Zealand that already allow SPF50+ labelling.
SPF50+ sunscreens will be available in stores this summer.
Existing sunscreens (most have SPF 30+) offer good protection while they are within the labeled expiry date and it will remain legal to supply them in Australia.
The Australian and New Zealand Sunscreens Standard which allows sunscreen products to be labelled with a maximum SPF claim of 50+ is now part of the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s regulations.
Source: Department of Health and Ageing
