Australian regulatory authority, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has launched an eight-week public consultation, ‘Seeking improvements to the regulation of sunscreens in Australia’, inviting interested parties to provide a response by May 23.

Given that Australia has the highest rates for skin cancer and melanoma globally, with around 2,000 people dying each year, it is critical that the regulatory settings are appropriate to ensure consumer confidence in sunscreens.

Sunscreens help protect skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays which can cause skin cancer. They contain substances that either absorb or reflect most UV rays.

The consultation paper proposes a range of improvements to the current regulatory framework: Enhancing the reliability and transparency of SPF testing; enabling timely adoption of new testing technologies; strengthening the oversight of testing laboratories; enhancing lifecycle quality assurance, including periodic testing, and ingredient standards; simplifying and clarifying SPF labelling; providing greater consistency with the indications that therapeutic and cosmetic sunscreens can make; and updating ‘good manufacturing practice’ guidance to improve manufacturing quality.

The proposals are intended to strengthen confidence in sunscreen performance. If accepted, the options would be implemented in a proportionate and targeted manner, with appropriate transition periods incorporated.

The TGA is scheduled to host a webinar on April 14 to give stakeholders an overview of the key proposals in the consultation paper. Consumers are encouraged to visit the TGA’s sunscreens hub for tips on choosing the right sunscreen, applying it properly and understanding the label; learn about SPF testing, check the latest sunscreen recalls, and know what to do if your sunscreen has been recalled; and find out how the regulator is reviewing sunscreen ingredients and why you should continue to use sunscreen during this process.

(Source: TGA)

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Published on April 6, 2026