In 2006, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation “on the efficacy of sunscreen products and the claims made relating thereto”. Twenty years later, it has begun work on revising it. At the CEAC (Cosmetics Europe Annual Conference) held in Brussels at the end of June 2024, three of those involved in the revision process explained why and how the Recommendation will be overhauled.
Roman Mokry, from the European Commission’s DG GROW, set the scene.
A good text… but a bit dated
Sun protection products are regulated in Europe like all other cosmetics, whereas in the United States and Australia, for example, they have OTC (Over The Counter drugs) status.
But even in Europe, they are not exactly cosmetics like any others.
Alarming figures
This was illustrated by Professor Paul Matts, from Procter & Gamble and Chairman of the Sun Protection Conference held every two years in London.
In 2006, it was estimated that one in three cancers worldwide was skin cancer. The link between skin cancer and exposure to the sun was already well established.
That’s why, in 2006, the European Commission decided it was necessary to regulate these special cosmetics known as sun protection products.
The principles of the Recommendation
A definition
The text adopted at the time first introduced a definition of sunscreen products as follows: any preparation (such as creams, oils, gels, sprays) intended to be placed in contact with the human skin with a view exclusively or mainly to protecting it from UV radiation by absorbing, scattering or reflecting radiation.”
Scientifically assessed filters
These sun protection products, which are …
