The FDA announced that sunscreen products meeting modern standards for effectiveness may be labeled with new information to help consumers find products that, when used with other sun protection measures, reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, as well as help prevent sunburn. The final regulation allows sunscreen products that pass the FDA’s test for protection against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays to be labeled as “Broad Spectrum.”
Products with SPF values between 2 and 14 may be labeled as Broad Spectrum if they pass the required test, but only products that are labeled as Broad Spectrum and have SPF values of 15 or higher may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, when used as directed. Any product that is not Broad Spectrm, or that is Broad Spectrum but has an SPF between 2 and 14, will be required to have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.
The new regulations will become effective for most manufacturers in 1 year. Manufacturers with annual sales less than $25,000 have 2 years to comply. ■
