As the TGA explains, this initiative follows “recent international and domestic developments [that] have highlighted a number of matters in relation to the current regulation of sunscreens.”
This move comes mainly in response to the [findings of an investigation] (@@LINK-70144@@) carried out by a consumer organisation in June 2025, which revealed huge discrepancies between the SPF values claimed on labels and the actual SPF levels in sun protection products. The TGA, which regulates these products in Australia, subsequently took up the matter.
Other factors, such as a new ISO method for measuring SPF in vitro or a notice from the US FDA stating that certain filters could no longer be considered GRASE (generally recognised as safe and effective), were also taken into account.

The consultation

The TGA has therefore published a document exploring several options for regulatory changes.
The stated aims are:
• improving reliability and transparency of sun protection factor (SPF) testing,
• enabling new testing technologies to be adopted in a more timely manner,
• strengthening oversight of testing laboratories,
• enhancing lifecycle quality assurance (periodic testing, ingredient standards),
• simplifying and clarifying SPF labelling,
• providing greater consistency with the indications that therapeutic …