Reading sunscreen labels

Sunscreen labels are required to comply with all labelling requirements for therapeutic goods as well as labelling requirements of the Australia standard for sunscreens adopted by the TGA.

Sunscreen labels provide the following information:

• whether the product is on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
• the Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
• the level of sunscreen protection like high or very high
• the ultraviolet (UV) protection like broad spectrum
• active ingredients
• instruction for use like how much to use and how often to reapply
• advice such as:
  • avoid excessive exposure to the sun and seek shade
  • use protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.
• any advisory or warning statements relating to ingredients
• storage conditions
• expiry date
• sponsor (product owner) contact details.

What the AUST L identification number means

An AUST L number means the sunscreen is included on the ARTG, which means it is regulated by us and can be legally supplied in Australia. 

What broad spectrum means

The term broad spectrum means that sunscreen protects against both ultraviolet B (UVB) rays and the sun’s ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, both of which can cause skin cancer.

UVA is responsible for skin tanning and skin aging. UVB is the primary cause of sunburn (also called erythema).

For more information on UV radiation, see How to choose a sunscreen.

What sun protection factor (SPF) means

The SPF indicates how effective the sunscreen is against ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which cause sunburn. The higher the number, the stronger the protection.

SPF 30, 40 and 50 sunscreens give a ‘high’ level of protection and SPF 50+ offers very high protection:

The + (plus) sign means that the SPF rating is higher than the number. The + sign can only be used for sunscreen products with SPF 50 that provide an SPF of 60 or more.

For more information on SPF and how it is tested see How to choose a sunscreen.

For information on using sunscreen see How to use sunscreens.