Kiri Gillespie: We need to quit playing catch-up, sunscreen regulation a no-brainer

Sunscreen regulation in New Zealand is one step closer to reality this week. Photo / Getty

OPINION
There's a lot to be said about taking things in good faith.

Many people rely on services from professionals such as doctors, academics and lawyers in good faith because surely these people are trained and skilled in what they're talking about.

But if something goes wrong, then there are the respective regulatory bodies to hold such people to account.

New Zealand's media industry is also overseen by its own regulatory bodies.

So what about sunscreen?

At the moment, anyone can sell sunscreen and make claims of SPF50 or other sun protection factors with little penalty if they're found to be wrong. There are countless brands and bottles of sunscreen for sale in chemists, supermarkets and other retail stores.

Yet, there is nothing strictly holding sunscreen manufacturers to account, or even to standard.

No wonder then that in 2020 when Consumer NZ tested 10 sunscreens for the sun protection they claimed, only five passed the test. In 2019, in the same test, just nine out of 20 sunscreens passed.

As a result, the Cancer Society - as one of those failing brands - withdrew the batch of the product tested.

Too little too late, I believe.

We need something bigger in place. And it appears Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is doing something about it.

On Wednesday, Muller's proposed Sunscreen Product Safety Standard Bill passed its first reading.

The bill would require the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to recommend the setting of mandatory regulations under the Fair Trading Act, prescribing a safety standard for sunscreen products.

Brilliant.

Melanoma is New Zealand's third most common cancer and more than 350 people die from it each year.

Locally, the Bay of Plenty has some of the highest melanoma rates in New Zealand.

Likewise, our outdoor-loving nation has some of the highest melanoma rates in the world. It shouldn't be a surprise. We've all been told of the lack of ozone layer in the skies above. So I can't help but feel we're a little behind the 8-ball when it comes to regulating such an important prevention tool against skin cancer.

While New Zealand has a joint sunscreen standard with Australia, which prescribes product tests and labelling requirements, it is only on a voluntary basis here. In Australia it is mandatory.

I applaud Muller in his efforts to tighten up the sunscreen industry. He has had a number of "minor skin cancers" removed and on Wednesday told Parliament it was critical his two red-headed daughters and son, along with other New Zealanders, could have confidence in products chosen off the shelf.

I agree.

Yes, we shouldn't solely rely on sunscreen when we can also cover up, seek shade or wear a hat. But we can do more.

Australia seems to have its act together.

It's about time we did too.

Regulating sunscreen is a no brainer. It's too important to leave to good faith.