While Australians are encouraged to keep up their sunscreen habits, sunscreen producers in the nation might soon need to adjust their formulations to include protections concerning two specific active ingredients.

Products containing the active ingredients homosalate, oxybenzone, and the byproduct benzophenone may require reformulation “to ensure sunscreens meet the highest safety standards for extended and frequent use”, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced on Tuesday.

The regulator has launched an extensive consultation on this matter, set to continue until August 12, to help assess the levels at which these ingredients remain appropriate for use in Australian sunscreens.

This news follows closely on the heels of CHOICE’s controversial report, which revealed that some of Australia’s popular sunscreens are not living up to the SPF claims on their labels.

The new TGA consultation will run until August 12. (Source: iStock Images)

According to the TGA, the latest consultation was initiated by the adoption of a new Australian sunscreen exposure model, the TGA’s ingredient review in February, and developments in overseas regulations.

A primary health concern in assessing these ingredients was their potential to impact the body’s hormones over time at high doses.

Following a safety review of seven active sunscreen ingredients earlier this year, the TGA is advising changes.

“Based on the data considered in this safety review, the TGA recommends regulatory controls for homosalate and oxybenzone to limit their permissible concentrations and usage in therapeutic sunscreens,” it stated.

“The two main issues considered in this review were the evidence of these ingredients’ ability to penetrate the skin to reach viable cells systemically, and the potential toxicity they might exert.”

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Before anyone decides to dramatically overhaul their cosmetics collection, the TGA also emphasized that this is not a directive to stop using sunscreen. All sunscreens available in Australia are safe, it said, and should remain a crucial line of defense when outdoors.

“The TGA is not recommending a change in sunscreen usage, nor are there any warnings, bans, or recalls of any products,” it affirmed.

“The expert clinical advice remains that the benefits of all sunscreens available in Australia continue to far outweigh any risks. Australians are urged to keep using sunscreen.”

Approximately 2,000 individuals die each year from skin cancer in Australia, with the nation recording some of the highest skin cancer rates globally.

All about the slip, slop, slap over here. (Source: The White Lotus)

How will this impact Aussie sunscreens?

Numerous sunscreens available on Australian shelves — including those from well-known brands like Cancer Council, Coles, Banana Boat, Neutrogena, and Woolworths — contain the active ingredients highlighted by the TGA, which could indicate forthcoming changes.

Coles, Woolworths, and Cancer Council will collaborate with their sunscreen suppliers to ensure products align with resulting recommendations and regulatory adjustments. PEDESTRIAN.TV has reached out to the brands for comments.

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The TGA’s new measures follow CHOICE’s controversial report from June, which discovered that only four out of 20 popular sunscreens met their SPF 50 or 50+ claims. The brands identified in the testing — which included Bondi Sands, Cancer Council, and Banana Boat, among others — stated they have independent testing confirming their products comply with TGA standards and meet the SPF on their labels.

According to CHOICE’s testing, the poorest performer was Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF50+ Mineral Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen, which received an SPF4 rating. However, Ultra Violette has disputed the results, suggesting this contradicts their own testing and might be due to human error.

CHOICE has released all of its test results publicly, urging the TGA to conduct a compliance review.

The TGA stated in a release that it is examining the findings and “will take regulatory action as required”.

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