The TGA is currently investigating concerns raised by recent CHOICE testing regarding the SPF claims of several sunscreens on the Australian market. This investigation was triggered after products, including Ultra Violette Lean Screen, showed SPF results well below their claimed 50+, leading to its voluntary recall and delisting after test results as low as SPF 4 were recorded. The core of the problem lies with the base formulation used in Lean Screen and a number of other sunscreens, which preliminary testing now suggests is unlikely to exceed an SPF of 21, and when made into a final product, could be as low as SPF 4. While a manufacturing inspection found no issues, the TGA has identified significant concerns regarding the reliability of SPF testing conducted by the UK-based lab Princeton Consumer Research Corp (PCR Corp), which many of the affected companies had relied upon to substantiate their product’s SPF claims. The TGA has notified all companies responsible for sunscreens using this base formulation of these testing concerns and the issues with PCR Corp, and is currently considering taking regulatory action against these products, while advising consumers to use an alternative product until the review is finalized.
