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Safer sunscreens!

Join our mission for regular mandatory sunscreen testing.

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Sunscreens now have to comply with a mandatory standard, but there's no regular testing required.

After many years of campaigning, the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Act finally became law!

Sunscreens are now regulated under the Fair Trading Act (FTA) and it is mandatory for products to meet the Australian and New Zealand sunscreen standard. Companies that breach the requirements face fines of up to $600,000. 

We've created a sunscreen database

An overwhelming 92% of people think companies should be required to regularly test their products to ensure different batches meet their SPF label claim. But there’s no regular testing required under the mandatory sunscreen standard. That's why we’ve developed a sunscreen database, to help you decide which sunscreen to buy. You can identify what testing lab was used and when the testing took place. You can also sort by price and identify active sunscreen ingredients and preservatives.

See the database

What we're calling for

Regular testing requirements

On its own, we don’t believe the mandatory standard is enough to protect consumers. The standard doesn’t say how often a sunscreen should be tested, and our investigations have found some companies rely on test results that are several years old. 

Sunscreens regulated as a therapeutic product

Regulating sunscreens under the Fair Trading Act should only be an interim measure. Sunscreens should be regulated as a therapeutic product, like they are in Australia.

Exposure to excessive UV radiation is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Sunscreen reduces this exposure, so it provides a therapeutic purpose – preventing DNA damage and the development of skin cancer.

Feel the Burn: Sunscreen Fraud

All is not well in the world of sunscreen testing. It’s the scene of a decades long, multi-million-dollar fraud. A fraud perpetuated on the outskirts of NYC, whose effects have touched us all over the globe and may continue to be felt for years to come. This episode of the Consume This podcast investigates - listen below. 

Watch John’s story

“It’s surprising that we’re not taking this as seriously as we should as a nation.”

In the media