9News Exposé: Australian Sunscreen Council Recaps TGA Sunscreen Warning & Chemical Controversy

By The Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC)

May 21, 2026

A startling recent investigation by 9News has brought nationwide attention to a critical public health issue that the Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC) has long warned against: the presence of potentially dangerous, hormone-disrupting chemicals in Australian children’s sunscreens.

If you missed the broadcast, here is a complete recap of the 9News investigation, the evidence uncovered, and what it means for your family's safety.

A National Sunscreen Warning

The broadcast opened with 9News anchor Tracy Vo issuing a stark "Sunscreen Warning" to the Australian public. The report revealed that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)—Australia's regulatory body for medicines and skincare—has been accused of allowing potentially dangerous chemicals into children's products while concealing internal safety concerns.

Leading the investigation, 9News reporter Kate Smithers detailed how everyday products designed to protect Australians from skin cancer might actually be introducing secondary health risks through controversial chemical UV filters.

The Chemicals in Question: Homosalate and 4-MBC

The 9News report heavily scrutinized two specific chemical filters widely used in the Australian market: Homosalate and 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC).

According to 9News, both ingredients are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors. While the European Union recently capped the use of Homosalate to a maximum of 7%, Kate Smithers reported that the TGA currently allows it to be used at more than double that rate—up to 15%—in Australia.

The situation regarding 4-MBC is even more concerning on a global scale. As illustrated in the 9News broadcast, 4-MBC has been banned in Denmark for 25 years, is completely unapproved for use in the USA and China, and faces an impending ban in the UK. Yet, Australia lags behind.

Over 100 Local Products Affected—Including Kids' Brands

Despite global restrictions, 9News reported that 4-MBC is still found in more than 100 sunscreen products across Australia.

Most alarmingly, the 9News investigation visually highlighted that these chemicals are prominently featured in popular children's products, explicitly showing footage of Banana Boat Kids Roll-On, Kids Spray, and Baby Roll-On sunscreens containing the controversial ingredients.

Medical Experts Speak Out

To understand the biological impact of these chemical filters, 9News interviewed Associate Professor Yousuf Mohammed from the University of Queensland.

Speaking directly to 9News cameras, Assoc. Prof. Mohammed did not mince words regarding the dangers of these chemicals. He warned that they "could potentially be harmful to human beings" and noted that systematic absorption "could lead to loss of fertility, it could cause mood swings and imbalance in your day-to-day life." Furthermore, he validated the ASC's core message, telling 9News: "Most of the chemical sunscreens are not recommended for kids."

Uncovering the TGA’s Hidden Safety Admissions

The most shocking revelation of the 9News broadcast came via Freedom of Information (FOI) documents obtained by Joseph Mizikovsky, an Australian Sunscreen Council member and zinc sunscreen producer.

Mizikovsky stepped forward in the 9News report to expose that the TGA was fully aware of the dangers posed by these chemicals but chose to keep the public in the dark.

"They held internal safety concerns and they had chosen not to release that to the public," Mizikovsky told 9News. "They're the regulator, we all trust them. They put out an image that they are on top of it, that Australia is the best in the world when it comes to sunscreen."

9News broadcasted the actual internal TGA emails and documents obtained by Mizikovsky. One internal email from 2024 showed staff explicitly asking: "Could we also prioritise the safety review of 4-MBC."

Even more damning, another TGA document shown by 9News clearly stated that 4-MBC "does not appear to be safe due to endocrine disrupting potential." Despite this internal admission, the TGA has yet to make a formal public recommendation to pull these products from the shelves.

The ASC’s Verdict: Time for Change

As 9News reporter Kate Smithers concluded, the push for higher SPF 50 ratings has driven some manufacturers to overload their formulas with these highly scrutinized chemicals to keep the products stable.

The Australian Sunscreen Council stands firmly with the experts featured in this 9News investigation. We believe Australian families deserve better than delayed regulatory action. Until the TGA aligns its chemical sunscreen policies with global safety standards, we urge consumers to read ingredient labels carefully.

For the safest protection, the ASC recommends swapping chemical formulas for natural, mineral-based sunscreens (such as Zinc Oxide) that physically block the sun without penetrating the skin or disrupting hormones.

The 9News investigation proves that this issue goes far beyond obscure, budget brands. The Australian Sunscreen Council has flagged that even the Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen uses 4-MBC in their Kids range.

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About the Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC)

The Australian Sunscreen Council is the peak industry body advocating for transparency, safety, and innovation in the Australian sunscreen sector. Comprised of toxicologists, dermatologists, formulators, and local manufacturers, the ASC champions science-led SPF efficacy and toxicology standards to protect public health and the environment.

For more information, visit: https://www.australiansunscreencouncil.org/