Cosmetics industry inches closer to global sun care methodology

The cosmetics industries of Europe, the US, South Africa and Japan have signed an agreement over the International Sun Protection Factor (SPF) Test Method.

The agreement and subsequent signing, which was attended by representatives of each country’s industry association, took place on the first day of the annual Colipa general assembly, which was held in Estoril, Portugal at the end of May.

The new method will benefit consumers, control authorities and companies as the method of SPF testing will now be harmonised across participating countries. It means that regardless of where the product is bought, the authorities will have a tool with which to control the substantiation claims of SPFs, which in the past have differed massively from country to country.

The new method will initally be applicable throughout the EU, Japan and South Africa. The situation will be a little different in the US as FDA regulations differ slightly to those elsewhere. However, the US cosmetics industry is said to support the international method. It is hoped that other countries and regions will begin to recognise the new guidelines in the near future.