In June 2025, consumer group CHOICE dropped a bombshell on Australia's most sun-conscious market: of 20 SPF50 and SPF50+ sunscreens sent to a TGA-approved laboratory, 16 failed to meet their label claim. One high-profile product returned a result of SPF 4 and was later withdrawn from sale entirely. The TGA has since flagged problems with an overseas testing lab, published a list of products sharing the affected base formulation, and opened a public consultation on reforming how SPF is tested in Australia.
If you felt your trust wobble, you're not alone — and this guide is about what to actually do with that feeling, rather than giving up on sunscreen (please don't: Australia still has among the highest skin cancer rates in the world).
What actually happened
CHOICE commissioned blind testing of 20 popular SPF50/50+ products. Sixteen came back below their labelled SPF; the worst result was retested at a second, independent lab in Germany with a similar outcome. The regulator's investigation later pointed to unreliable results from a specific overseas contract lab used by several brands, meaning some products' certifications were built on shaky data rather than deliberate deception.
The affected brand initially disputed the findings, then voluntarily withdrew the product in August 2025. The TGA published the wider list of sunscreens sharing the same base formulation and is now consulting (through to May 2026) on stricter, more reproducible SPF-testing rules.
Why sunscreen is different in Australia
Unlike most countries, Australia regulates primary sunscreens as therapeutic goods, not cosmetics. A compliant product must be listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and display an AUST L number on the label, with manufacturing held to pharmaceutical-style GMP standards. That's also why many viral overseas sunscreens — including most Korean SPF products — can't legally be sold as sunscreens here: they aren't ARTG-listed.
Practical takeaway: when you buy SPF in Australia, look for the AUST L number. It doesn't make a product immune to testing controversies, but it means it sits inside the regulated system that is currently being tightened.
How to choose SPF you can trust right now
First, keep using sunscreen — the failures were about products underdelivering on a claim, and even most 'failed' products still offered meaningful protection, just below SPF50. Second, favour ARTG-listed products and check the TGA's published updates if you want to verify a specific formulation. Third, remember that how you apply matters as much as what you buy: most people apply a quarter to half of the amount sunscreen is tested at.
The standard guidance: apply generously (about a teaspoon per limb, one for the face and neck), 20 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating — always following the directions on your product's label.
Sunscreen is one layer, not the whole strategy
Australian sun safety has never been sunscreen-only. Shade, UPF clothing, a broad-brim hat and sunglasses carry no testing uncertainty at all. Sunscreen covers what those can't. If the 2025 scandal changes one habit, let it be treating SPF as the final layer of protection rather than the only one.
Where Auvira fits
We stock sunscreen and SPF products alongside after-sun care and self tanners (the UV-free way to a tan). Because sunscreens are therapeutic goods in Australia, always read the individual product label — including its AUST L listing where shown — and follow its directions for use.
Shop related collections
Free standard shipping Australia-wide · 10% off with code AUVIRA10
Frequently asked questions
What is an AUST L number on sunscreen?
It is the listing number a product receives when it is entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Primary sunscreens sold in Australia must be ARTG-listed and display this number, which ties them to regulated manufacturing and testing standards.
Did the CHOICE tests mean sunscreen doesn't work?
No. Most tested products still provided substantial protection — the issue was products delivering less than their labelled SPF50+. Regulators are reforming testing standards, and using any broad-spectrum sunscreen generously remains far better than using none.
Why can't I buy Korean sunscreens in Australia?
Primary sunscreens must be listed on the ARTG before they can be sold in Australia, and most overseas sunscreen formulations have not gone through that listing process. That is a legal requirement unique to how Australia regulates sun protection.
How much sunscreen should I apply?
Roughly one teaspoon per limb and one for the face, neck and ears, applied 20 minutes before exposure and reapplied every two hours and after swimming — always following your product label's directions.
This article is general information about cosmetic products and shopping, not medical or dermatological advice. Skin and hair are personal — patch test new products, always read the label and follow the directions for use, and talk to a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist about persistent skin or hair concerns. Sunscreens and some hair regrowth products are regulated as therapeutic goods in Australia; check labels for an AUST L number where relevant.