As a reminder, this reform follows on from the consequences of an investigation carried out by a consumer organisation in June 2025, which had revealed huge discrepancies between the SPF values claimed on labels and the actual SPF values in sun protection products. The TGA, which regulates these products in Australia, subsequently took up the matter and published a document exploring several options for regulatory changes, which was put out for consultation in the spring of 2026.

The TGA states that the nearly 120 submissions received have been taken into account in shaping the reform, which will include the following points:
• Strengthening sunscreen testing requirements to improve confidence and reliability of SPF claims
• Developing quality requirements for specific sunscreen ingredients to help ensure sunscreen products that include those ingredients are of high quality and will perform as expected
• Limiting the SPF claims that cosmetic sunscreens can make so that there is clear distinction for consumers between sunscreens that are used for a primary purpose of UV protection and secondary (cosmetic) sunscreens
• Reviewing sunscreen good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidance to clarify expectations and responsibilities, strengthen manufacturing outcomes, and support continued confidence in the quality and performance …