In the wake of that removal, several other sunscreens, thought to be based on a similar formula, were quietly removed from sale.
Now the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is taking action.
On Tuesday, 30 September, the TGA is now suggesting consumers find alternatives to the 21 sunscreen products identified as sharing the same base formulation as Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen.
“Preliminary testing of specific goods manufactured using the base formulation indicates that the SPF value of the goods may, for at least some of the goods, be as low as SPF 4.”
If you purchased a product in the above list, the TGA states that “you may wish to consider using an alternative product until the TGA completes its review”.
CHOICE had initially tested Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen at an SPF of 4, against a claim of SPF 50+. A secondary test conducted at an alternative independent lab in Germany came back with a result of SPF 5. In response Ultra Violette did its own internal testing and ultimately removed the product from shelves.
If you purchased a product in the above list, the TGA states that ‘you may wish to consider using an alternative product’ until it completes its review
“We had multiple, independent labs conduct new tests of Lean Screen,” Ultra Violette said in a statement released in August.
To date, tests on Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen returned SPFs of 4, 10, 21, 26, 33, 60, 61 and 64.
“That wasn’t good enough for us, and it isn’t good enough for you,” Ultra Violette said in August.
“Given this pattern of inconsistency in testing, we have decided to withdraw Lean/Velvet Screen from the market, effective immediately. Purchases of this product will be eligible for a refund and a product voucher, regardless of where it was purchased.”
Concerns over reliability of sunscreen lab
The TGA also called out Princeton Consumer Research Corp (PCR), the UK-based lab responsible for Ultra Violette’s initial testing. That lab was also used by eight products that did not meet their SPF claims in CHOICE testing.
“[T]he TGA has significant concerns about the reliability of SPF testing undertaken by Princeton Consumer Research Corp (PCR Corp), a testing laboratory based in the United Kingdom,” the TGA wrote in a statement.
“The TGA is aware that many companies responsible for sunscreens manufactured using this base formulation relied on testing by PCR Corp to support their SPF claims, and that they obtained that testing before they were informed of the TGA’s concerns.
[T]he TGA has significant concerns about the reliability of SPF testing undertaken by Princeton Consumer Research Corp (PCR Corp), a testing laboratory based in the United Kingdom
TGA statement
“The TGA has now outlined its concerns with PCR Corp testing to all companies responsible for sunscreens manufactured using this base formulation. The TGA has also written to PCR Corp regarding its concerns and has not received a response.”
The TGA has notified all sunscreen manufacturers named above about the concerns with both the base formula and the testing performed by PCR.
“It’s highly concerning to see the TGA confirm that 20 sunscreens using the same base formula as Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen are unlikely to meet their SPF claims,” says CHOICE CEO Ashley De Silva.
“Today’s announcement highlights, yet again, the importance of the TGA’s investigation and the need for changes to how sunscreens are regulated and tested in Australia.”
For more than 60 years, CHOICE has been fighting the good fight for Australian consumers.
In the past year alone we've uncovered systemic issues with sunscreens, investigated shonky supermarket pricing, fought for stronger scam protections and helped make complex energy pricing fairer and clearer.
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