Australia Launches Consultation on Sunscreen Reform

The Australian regulatory agency overseeing sunscreen products, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), is seeking feedback on proposed changes to improve the regulation of therapeutic sunscreens in Australia.

Recent international and domestic developments have highlighted a number of matters in relation to the current regulation of sunscreens, such as the variability of sunscreen sun protection factor (SPF) claims, the reproducibility of current SPF testing methods, the level of oversight of laboratories performing SPF testing, and the understanding of sponsors (product owners) and manufacturers of their regulatory obligations.

To strengthen confidence in sunscreen performance, the consultation covers five areas:

Section 1: SPF testing matters: Variability, oversight, flexibility and evidence requirements

Section 2: Potential efficacy or quality issues with specific formulations/ingredients 

Section 3: Labelling matter, SPF labelling considerations

Section 4: Cosmetic sunscreens able to make high SPF claims

Section 5: Opportunities to enhance sunscreen manufacturing guidance

The consultation opened on 26 March and will run until 23 May 2026.

More information on the consultation here.