Sunscreen Product Safety Standard: What You Need to Know

In New Zealand, all manufacturers, importers, and suppliers of sunscreen products must comply with the mandatory safety standard AS/NZ 2604:2012 Sunscreen Products – Evaluation and Classification (the Safety Standard). This standard ensures that sunscreen products are independently tested and meet specific requirements before they can be supplied.

Who Needs to Comply?
Any business manufacturing, importing, or selling sunscreen products in New Zealand must follow this safety standard.

What Products Does the Standard Apply To?

• Sunscreen products whose primary purpose is to protect the skin from UV radiation.
• Insect repellents with an SPF of 4 or more.
• Skincare products labelled SPF greater than 15 (excluding lip products or makeup bases).

Labelling Requirements
Sunscreen products must be clearly marked with their SPF in durable, legible characters, along with clear instructions on how to apply them. For more information download the Commerce Commission Guide to Sunscreen Labelling - April 2023 (PDF 160kb)

Where to Learn More
For further information, visit Standards New Zealand (www.standards.govt.nz) or contact the Commerce Commission via email at fairtrading@comcom.govt.nz.