Australian Sunscreen Council: Trusted Industry Voice for National Media and International Regulators

Published by the Australian Sunscreen Council | May 2026

The Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC) continues to play a central role in informing public debate on sunscreen safety, regulation, and innovation in Australia. Over the past twelve months, ASC has been the go-to industry body for the country's leading newsrooms — including the ABC, The Courier-Mail, the Herald Sun, and Nine News — while also extending Australia's voice into international regulatory and scientific forums.

This update highlights the work ASC has been doing to inform Australia's national broadcasters and major mastheads, and shares insights from a recent visit to Japan by ASC expert member Joseph Mizikovsky, who attended CPHI Japan 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight.

Informing Australia's National Broadcaster and Leading Mastheads

ABC News and Background Briefing

In December 2025, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Australia's national broadcaster — published an investigation into sunscreen SPF testing. The Australian Sunscreen Council and its members were referenced in the ABC's reporting as a key industry voice on sunscreen formulation, SPF performance, and the limitations of current testing standards.

The ABC's Background Briefing program followed up with a podcast episode examining the sunscreen industry — further underscoring the ABC's recognition of the Australian Sunscreen Council as a relevant authority on sunscreen issues in Australia.

The Courier-Mail: Research Integrity Investigation

In April 2026, The Courier-Mail reported that QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute had confirmed it was investigating complaints lodged by the Australian Sunscreen Council concerning two of its leading skin cancer researchers and alleged failures to declare funding relationships with a sunscreen manufacturer.

This story marked a watershed moment for research integrity in the Australian sunscreen sector and demonstrated the Australian Sunscreen Council's role in driving accountability and transparency in publicly funded science.

The Courier-Mail and Herald Sun: 4-MBC Exposé

On 1 March 2026, The Courier-Mail and Herald Sun published a joint exposé on the chemical UV filter 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC) — an ingredient that has drawn growing concern in international regulatory circles. The Australian Sunscreen Council contributed industry context to the reporting and continues to advocate for ingredient transparency and stronger oversight of chemical UV filters used in Australian sunscreens.

Nine News: Skin Cancer Trends

Nine News has reported extensively on Australian skin cancer trends, including the encouraging finding that Australians born after the year 2000 are around four times less likely to develop skin cancer than earlier generations. ASC welcomes this progress and continues to highlight the role that effective sunscreens, ingredient safety, and informed public messaging play in maintaining that downward trajectory.

ASC at CPHI Japan 2026: Strengthening International Regulatory Dialogue

From 21–23 April 2026, ASC member Joseph Mizikovsky attended CPHI Japan 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight — one of the largest pharmaceutical and ingredient industry events in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Mizikovsky is a member of Standards Australia's CS-042 Sunscreen Agents committee, Australia's national standards body for sunscreen formulation requirements. Standards Australia has been developing technical standards for more than 100 years since its establishment in 1922.

At CPHI Japan, Mr Mizikovsky was joined by a Japanese delegation that included a regulatory expert and a medical doctor. Together, they met with multiple Japanese sunscreen and cosmetic ingredient companies to discuss:

• UV filter regulation under Japan's pharmaceutical and cosmetic frameworks

• Filter safety assessment and Japan's approach to evaluating long-term human and environmental exposure

• The uptake of mineral sunscreen filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) in the Japanese market

• Cross-border alignment between Australian and Japanese regulatory expectations for sunscreen products

Why Japan Matters for Australian Sunscreen Policy

Japan has long been recognised as a global leader in cosmetic chemistry and sunscreen formulation. Japanese regulators take a precautionary, evidence-led approach to UV filter approvals, and Japanese consumers have embraced both advanced chemical filters and mineral sunscreens with strong cosmetic performance.

Key insights from the meetings included:

• Japan's regulatory framework distinguishes clearly between quasi-drugs (which include sunscreens) and cosmetics, with explicit safety dossier requirements for UV filters.

• There is a growing Japanese consumer preference for mineral filters, particularly zinc oxide formulations, driven by skin sensitivity concerns and reef-safe positioning.

• Japanese manufacturers have invested heavily in micronised and coated mineral particle technology that delivers high SPF performance without the heavy white cast traditionally associated with mineral sunscreens.

• Japan's post-market surveillance systems offer a useful reference point for Australia as the TGA and AICIS continue to refine their oversight of sunscreen ingredients.

  
  

These insights will inform ASC's ongoing engagement with Australian regulators and standards bodies, and reinforce ASC's commitment to bringing international best practice into the Australian sunscreen conversation.

Why Journalists Turn to the Australian Sunscreen Council

The Australian Sunscreen Council is uniquely positioned to comment on:

• Sunscreen formulation and SPF testing — including ISO 24444 in vivo methodology

• Mineral vs chemical UV filters — safety, performance, and consumer trends

• Australian regulation — TGA, AICIS, and Standards Australia's CS-042 committee

• International regulatory comparisons — Japan, the European Union, and the United States

• Research integrity and conflict-of-interest disclosure in publicly funded skin cancer research

• Consumer transparency — ingredient labelling, marketing claims, and SPF accuracy

ASC members include formulators, scientists, advocates and standards committee members with direct experience in Australian and international regulatory environments. ASC is a non-profit industry body and provides independent, evidence-based commentary to media outlets, parliamentary inquiries, and regulatory consultations.

Media Enquiries

Journalists, producers and researchers seeking comment on sunscreen safety, regulation, ingredient science, or industry trends are welcome to contact the Australian Sunscreen Council via the official website: australiansunscreencouncil.org or media@australiansunscreencouncil.org

The ASC can provide:

• On-the-record industry commentary

• Technical briefings on SPF testing, UV filter chemistry, and Australian standards

• Introductions to subject-matter experts including Standards Australia CS-042 committee members

• Background on international regulatory developments, including Japan, the EU and the US

  
  

About the Australian Sunscreen Council

The Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC) is a non-profit industry body advocating for sunscreen safety, ingredient transparency, scientific integrity, and high formulation standards in Australia. The ASC engages with regulators including the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS), Standards Australia, and international counterparts to advance evidence-based sunscreen policy in the public interest.