As part of the ongoing review of the 2006 European Commission’s Recommendation “on the efficacy of sunscreen products and the claims made relating thereto”, known as the “Sunscreen Products” Recommendation, the French Anses has just published an opinion setting out its position on all the points currently under discussion.
This “Scientific and Technical Support Note” is dated 23 September 2024, but has just been made public on 11 December.
It begins by emphasising the importance of revising the “Sunscreen Products” Recommendation, pointing out that “the prevention of risks associated with exposure to the sun is a real public health issue,” and calls for the Recommendation to be “made clearer and more restrictive, to provide better protection for users of suncare products,” before going on to set out all the points involved in achieving this.
“Secondary” suncare products
While the 2006 Recommendation only covers products whose sole or main purpose is to protect human skin from UV radiation, the Anses notes that UV filters are used in cosmetics, such as personal care products, make-up and perfumes, in many galenic forms. These products are generally referred to as “secondary” sun protection products as opposed to “primary” sun protection products, and, as their main function is not to protect against the sun, consumer use is not the same as with a product intended solely to protect against UV radiation.
The agency points out that there is currently no official definition in Europe, as there is in Australia and New Zealand.
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