From 19 November 2026, Cosmetics and Sunscreens With Benzophenone, a Cancer-Listed Chemical, Must Come Off Southeast Asia's Market
From 19 November 2026, benzophenone must not be used in cosmetics, including 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and SPF products, under the cosmetic rules of Southeast Asia's ASEAN countries, and products that don't comply must be withdrawn.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 TGA is still reviewing benzophenone; its interim decision is due by the end of 2026. The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling for benzophenone to be banned in Australian sunscreen.
From 19 November 2026, benzophenone must not be used in cosmetics, including sunscreens and SPF products, under ASEAN's cosmetic rules. Thailand agreed in May 2025 to the same date (Food and Drug Administration Philippines [FDA Philippines], 2026b, pp. 1, 3, 8). ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Its cosmetic rules list "Sunbathing products" as cosmetics, so sunscreens and SPF products are covered (ASEAN, n.d., Annex I). The region's cosmetics committee added benzophenone to the list with the entry "Benzophenone (Carc. 1B)", a carcinogen classification (FDA Philippines, 2026b, p. 3).
The committee adopted the change in November 2024 (FDA Philippines, 2026b, pp. 1, 3). Thailand was first left out, then agreed at a later meeting (FDA Philippines, 2026b, p. 8). The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration published the decision in a signed circular dated 22 April 2026 (FDA Philippines, 2026b, p. 1).
The rule is plain. From that date, "only compliant products shall be made available in the market and non-compliant products shall be withdrawn from the market" (FDA Philippines, 2026b, p. 3).
Benzophenone will go on the region's list of substances that must not be in cosmetics, including sunscreens and SPF products (FDA Philippines, 2026a, pp. 1, 4; ASEAN, n.d., Annex I).
What scientists and regulators found
The concern is not new. The World Health Organization's cancer agency, IARC, has looked at benzophenone. It found "sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of benzophenone" (International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC], 2013, §6.2). Its overall verdict: "Benzophenone is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)" (IARC, 2013, §6.3).
In Canada, Health Canada concluded benzophenone "meets the human health criterion for a toxic substance", the TGA noted (TGA, 2025b, p. 6).
Southeast Asia is not acting alone. "The EU has prohibited the inclusion of benzophenone as an ingredient in cosmetic products," Australia's medicines regulator noted (TGA, 2025a, p. 15).
Ukraine will follow. Its government adopted the change in June 2026. From 13 December 2026, benzophenone will be on Ukraine's list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products (Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, 2026, annex p. 206).
What Australia's regulators found
That medicines regulator is the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It published a benzophenone safety review in July 2025 (TGA, 2025b). On its sunscreen ingredients web page, the TGA said benzophenone "may potentially be formed in the manufacturing process or from incorrect storage conditions" and that "It has possible carcinogenic risks, and its levels should be limited in products" (TGA, n.d.). The TGA is still reviewing benzophenone; its interim decision is due by the end of 2026 (TGA, n.d.).
The TGA's own records showed benzophenone in Australian products. As of 17 September 2024, the TGA recorded benzophenone "being used as fragrance" in eight medicines and two other health products (TGA, 2025b, p. 5).
Australia's own chemicals regulator has weighed in. The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) assesses industrial chemicals. An AICIS evaluation statement, quoted by the TGA, concluded that "given the identified potential long term systemic health hazards, the evidence indicates that there is a risk to the public following repeated, long-term exposure to the chemical that requires management" (TGA, 2025a, p. 15).
In Southeast Asia, cosmetics and sunscreens that don't comply are to be withdrawn from 19 November 2026. Australia has set no such date.
Benzophenone can also end up in sunscreen. Octocrylene is a chemical used in sunscreen, and the TGA noted that "the presence of benzophenone in sunscreen arises as an impurity in the manufacture of products containing octocrylene, and from the degradation of octocrylene into benzophenone as the product ages" (TGA, 2025a, p. 15).
The Australian Sunscreen Council points to TGA FOI 26-2156, which revealed the regulator itself said benzophenone "is considered to be ... shown to disrupt endocrine signalling" (TGA, 2025c, p. 54 of 74), and a study of 16 commercially available products containing octocrylene found average benzophenone levels rose from 39 mg/kg to 75 mg/kg in lab ageing tests (Downs et al., 2021). The Council is calling for benzophenone to be banned in Australian sunscreen.
Non-nano zinc oxide is the only broad-spectrum UV filter that is reef safe and Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE) by the US FDA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], n.d.; National Park Service [NPS], n.d.; U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2019, p. 6206; Beasley & Meyer, 2010; Hanrahan, 2012). On its own it protects across the full UVA and UVB range, including long UVA (Beasley & Meyer, 2010; Hanrahan, 2012).
About the Australian Sunscreen Council
The Australian Sunscreen Council is a registered Australian charity dedicated to improving the health of everyday Australians through UV education, research and evidence-based sun safety initiatives.
As Australia’s peak industry body for sunscreen safety, the Council works with scientists, medical professionals, industry experts and policymakers to advance sunscreen safety, support independent research, improve public understanding of UV exposure and promote stronger public-health standards.
ABN 64 692 134 982
Australian Sunscreen Council Editorial Team
The Council is supported by an Expert Group and may draw on advice from one or more members depending on the subject matter of a particular article, submission or publication. Members listed by the Council include (Australian Sunscreen Council, n.d.):
Dr Craig Downs, Executive Director, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory
Dr Russell Hills, cosmetic and laser dermatologist and Mohs specialist
Dr Denis Dudley, obstetrician-gynaecologist and endocrinologist
Dr Abhinandan “Rocky” Chowdhury, toxicologist
Dr Leslie Laquieze, sunscreen testing and photoprotection
Mgr. Mehrdad Mirzaei, pharmacist and photoprotection researcher
Joseph DiNardo, cosmetic toxicologist
Dr Alan Jones, skin cancer physician
Camila Biato Stopa, MSc, cosmetic scientist and pharmacist
Acknowledgment
Grok was used in the creation of this article. Always read the sunscreen label and use only as directed. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats, and eyewear.
References
Australian Sunscreen Council. (n.d.). Scientific experts in sunscreen safety. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.australiansunscreencouncil.org/scientific-experts-sunscreen-safety
ASEAN. (n.d.). Appendix I: Illustrative list of cosmetic products by categories [ASEAN Cosmetic Documents]. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Appendix-I-Illustrative-List-of-Cosmetic-Products-by-Categories.pdf
Beasley, D. G., & Meyer, T. A. (2010). Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 11(6), 413–421. https://doi.org/10.2165/11537050-000000000-00000
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2026, June 4). Про внесення змін до постанови Кабінету Міністрів України від 20 січня 2021 р. № 65 [On amendments to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 65 of 20 January 2021] (Resolution No. 737). https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/737-2026-%D0%BF
Food and Drug Administration Philippines. (2026a). Annex A: Amendments to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) ingredient annexes [Annex to FDA Circular No. 2026-0001]. https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Annex-A-Consolidated-ACD-Amendments-40th-42nd.pdf
Food and Drug Administration Philippines. (2026b, April 22). FDA Circular No. 2026-0001: Consolidated amendments to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) as adopted during the 40th to 42nd ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) meeting and their related meetings [Signed circular]. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/FDA-Circular-No.2026-0001.pdf
Downs, C. A., DiNardo, J. C., Stien, D., Rodrigues, A. M. S., & Lebaron, P. (2021). Benzophenone accumulates over time from the degradation of octocrylene in commercial sunscreen products. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 34(4), 1046–1054. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00461
Hanrahan, J. R. (2012). Sunscreens. Australian Prescriber, 35(5), 148–151. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2012.068 Quoted: "Zinc oxide offers true broad spectrum UV protection" (p. 149).
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2013). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans: Vol. 101. Benzophenone. https://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/iarcmono/v101iarc.pdf
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Skincare chemicals and marine life. National Ocean Service. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html
National Park Service. (n.d.). Sunscreen. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.nps.gov/subjects/oceans/sunscreen.htm
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (n.d.). Sunscreen ingredients. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/sunscreens/sunscreen-ingredients
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025a). Pre-meeting public notice: Joint ACMS-ACCS #41, homosalate, oxybenzone, benzophenone [Public notice, September 2025]. https://consultations.tga.gov.au/tga/scheduling-pre-meeting-sunscreen-substances-sep-25/user_uploads/pre-meeting-public-notice---joint-41---homosalate-oxybenzone-benzophenone---sep-2025-1.pdf
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025b, July 8). Safety review of benzophenone. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/corporate-reports/safety-review-benzophenone
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025c, May). Safety review of seven active sunscreen ingredients (FOI 26-2156, Document 4). https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-06/FOI%2026-2156.PDF
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019, February 26). Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use (Proposed rule, 84 Fed. Reg. 6204; Docket No. FDA-1978-N-0018). Federal Register. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-26/pdf/2019-03019.pdf
