EU targets safer sunscreen labels

New sunscreen labels designed to help consumers stay safe in the sun have been unveiled by the European commission.

Consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva said on Monday that consumers needed clear, accurate information on sunscreen products “so they can make informed choices”.

“We need to reinforce the essential message that sunscreen is only one of a number of measures that are necessary for effective protection against the sun,” she said.

The new labels, which include a new UV-A logo and a ban on misleading terms such as "sunblocker" or "total protection", have attracted the support of a number of MEPs.

UK MEP Arlene McCarthy, chair of parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee, welcomed the initiative, saying that misleading labels are putting consumers unknowingly at risk.

“The proposed low, medium, high or very high banding labelling system is a much clearer and simpler way for people to be able to see at a glance the level of protection they are going to receive from a suncream,” she said.

The measures coincide with the launch of a campaign to encourage safe sun behaviour.

Brussels is determined to promote the message that sun cream use is only one method of protection, and that behavioural attitudes must change if Europe is to properly tackle the dangers of skin cancer.

The new regime is voluntary and will now start to be phased in. The commission says that new labels will appear on 20 per cent of sunscreen bottles this summer.

The EU is a major and growing market for sunscreens. The commission estimates that retail value of sunscreen products in Europe in 2005 was over €1.3bn.

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