Oxybenzone has been detected in breast milk, blood and amniotic fluid in studies. A Brazilian bill would ban it, and the Australian Sunscreen Council is pushing for Australia to follow.

New Zealand has banned oxybenzone above 2.2% in body sunscreens and sprays, matching the European Union. Old stock can be sold only until 31 December 2026.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned two chemicals from US sunscreen, finding that "the risks associated with use of these active ingredients in sunscreen drug products outweigh their benefits" (FDA, 2026, p. 2). It found topical trolamine salicylate "is associated with potential serious adverse health effects due to its anticoagulant properties, which may increase the risk of bleeding" (FDA, 2026, p. 5). Australian sunscreens can still contain up to 12% trola

From 19 November 2026, benzophenone is banned as a cosmetic ingredient, including in sunscreens and SPF products, under the cosmetic rules of Southeast Asia's ASEAN countries, and products that don't comply must be withdrawn. Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), said on its website that benzophenone "has possible carcinogenic risks". The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling for benzophenone to be banned in Australian sunscreen.

A bill in Michigan, in the United States, would ban oxybenzone and other benzophenones in cosmetic products from 1 January 2027. Oxybenzone is a chemical UV filter used in sunscreen. Australian sunscreens can still contain up to 10% oxybenzone. The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling on the TGA to ban oxybenzone in sunscreen, citing the TGA's own finding that oxybenzone "is not deemed to present a low risk to human health and safety" at the 10% maximum.

Benzophenone, a chemical California lists as causing cancer, can form inside your sunscreen the longer it sits in the bottle. The Australian Sunscreen Council is pushing for Australia to ban it.

Banned in 95 nations and found by Europe's chemicals agency to be an endocrine disruptor, 4-MBC is still used in Australian sunscreen. Türkiye is moving to ban it too.

The Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC) is making available the analytical method used by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to identify and quantify residual benzene in sunscreen products. The method was released by the TGA under Freedom of Information and is attached below for members, manufacturers, contract laboratories and other interested parties. Benzene is not an ingredient in sunscreens, but trace amounts can be introduced through raw materials, propellants or

Australian Sunscreen Council has received international, national, trade and broadcast media coverage for its advocacy on sunscreen safety, UV-filter transparency, testing standards, children’s sunscreen marketing and regulatory accountability.