Australia is preparing a significant overhaul of its sunscreen regulations following a far-reaching product scandal that exposed widespread discrepancies between advertised and actual sun protection levels.

The country’s medicines regulator has unveiled proposed reforms after investigations revealed that many popular sunscreens failed to meet their labelled sun protection factor (SPF).

Independent testing found that a large majority of products marketed as SPF50 or higher delivered substantially lower protection, with some performing at levels as low as SPF4.

The findings triggered recalls across multiple brands and prompted a broader review of the industry.

Regulators identified serious concerns about the reliability of SPF testing, particularly in laboratories used by manufacturers, as well as gaps in companies’ understanding of their legal obligations.

In several cases, products sharing the same base formulation were found to significantly underperform, raising systemic concerns about quality control and verification processes.

In response, authorities are proposing a comprehensive reset of sunscreen standards.

Central to the reforms is a simplification of SPF labelling, replacing precise numerical claims with clearer categories such as low, medium, high, and very high protection.

The aim is to provide consumers with more understandable guidance while reducing the risk of misleading claims.

The proposed changes also include tighter oversight of testing laboratories, improved quality assurance requirements, and faster adoption of advanced testing technologies.

Regulators intend to strengthen ingredient standards and address complexities in existing rules that allowed some cosmetic sunscreens to make high-SPF claims under less stringent frameworks.

The shakeup comes at a critical time for Australia, which faces one of the highest skin cancer rates globally.

Ensuring that sunscreens deliver reliable protection is considered a public health priority, particularly as consumers rely heavily on these products in extreme UV conditions.

Industry stakeholders have broadly welcomed the move, viewing it as a necessary step to rebuild confidence and reinforce the credibility of Australian-made sunscreens in both domestic and international markets.

Public consultation on the proposed reforms is now underway, with further regulatory action expected as authorities continue to investigate the extent of the discrepancies and enforce compliance across the sector.