Australia has some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, so it's not surprising that we take sunscreen seriously. However, the sunscreens we use could be set to look very different. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has released a set of proposed reforms that could change the way SPF is tested, labelled,and regulated, all in an effort to make sun protection more reliable and easier to understand.

The proposal comes after tests by consumer group CHOICE last year found that many sunscreens didn’t deliver the SPF they promised. Some products were even recalled as a result of SPF variance, leaving many confused about what they were really putting on their skin. Here's what you need to know.

How and why Australia is rethinking sunscreen regulations

The TGA wants to make sunscreens more reliable and easier to understand. That means tightening the rules around how products are tested, how labs are checked, and how SPF is shown on the packaging. The goal is simple: make sunscreen more consistent so it’s easier for Aussies to choose the right product for their skin and sun exposure.

Right now, sunscreen companies don’t have to share their SPF testing results. The TGA wants to change that, so the data would be public. This way, researchers, consumer groups, and everyday buyers can see if a product really does what it promises.

There are three ways SPF labels could change

The TGA is considering three main options for SPF labelling:

1. Keep the numbers the same

As you would know, sunscreens are currently labelled with numbers like SPF30 or SPF50. (SPF30 sunscreen allows 1/30th of UV radiation to filter through, while SPF50 admits 1/50th, etc.). These numbers are supposed to indicate how much protection a product gives against UVB rays.

Sticking to this system would mean that nothing would change on sunscreen packaging. The logic to this is that consumers already know what SPF numbers mean, and it matches the system used in other countries.

2. Add more detail to SPF labels

Another idea is to keep the SPF numbers but include extra info, like explaining “SPF30 blocks 97% of UVB rays.” This would make the labels more transparent and help consumers understand what protection they’re getting.

3. Simplify SPF with words

The third proposal is ditching numbers like SPF30 entirely and using simple categories: low, medium, high, and very high. The pros to thic change is that it would be helpful for people who find the current SPF system confusing, but it would be a big change – requiring new laws, new packaging, and lots of education to make sure everyone understands what they're purchasing.