Who is affected and why
The TGA sunscreen reforms are a package of proposed changes from the Therapeutic Goods Administration to tighten how sunscreens are regulated in Australia. Announced on 27 October 2026, they affect both the people who buy and use sunscreen and the sponsors and manufacturers who bring it to market. The aim is simple: when a bottle says SPF 50, you should be able to trust it.
The push follows consumer group CHOICE’s 2025 testing, which found that 16 of 20 popular sunscreens fell short of the SPF on their labels.
The proposed changes
- Strengthening testing requirements, so consumers can have more confidence in SPF claims.
- Introducing quality requirements for specific sunscreen ingredients, so products containing them perform as they should.
- Limiting the SPF claims that cosmetic sunscreens can make, drawing a clearer line between products whose main job is UV protection and those, such as SPF moisturisers and foundations, where sun protection is secondary.
- Reviewing good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidance to clarify what is expected of manufacturers and who is responsible for what.
SPF labelling itself isn’t changing yet. The TGA says it will consult further on labelling before taking any proposed changes forward.
Where the TGA sunscreen reforms stand
The proposals draw on a public consultation that ran from March to May 2026 and attracted almost 120 responses from industry, testing laboratories, health professionals, consumer groups, academics and others. The TGA is also seeking advice from academic and industry experts on what underpins the quality, efficacy and safety of sunscreens sold in Australia. For now, none of these measures has taken effect; they are still being developed. In the meantime, keep using sunscreen as you normally would.
Also read: Phosphine exposure limit set to fall in December – labels on 33 products unchanged for now
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Therapeutic Goods Administration.
