Australian Sunscreen Council: Raising the Bar for Sun-Safe Standards

Joseph Mizikovsky
Aug 4
2 min read

At a Glance – The Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC) is the peak body for Australia’s A$500 million sunscreen & SPF-cosmetics sector, representing manufacturers, brand owners, formulators and raw-material suppliers exporting to 42 countries.

Mission & Mandate

Protect public health – set science-led SPF efficacy & toxicology standards.
Advance transparency – ensure every marketing claim is backed by verifiable data.
Grow Australian manufacturing – champion “Made-in-Australia” sunscreens worldwide.

Policy Priorities — Facts, Not Promises

Priority	Why it matters	ASC action
Ingredient safety	Legacy filters 4-MBC (banned in 28 countries) & high-% Homosalate remain in AU formulas.	Fast-track TGA review & public ingredient watch-list.
Zero-tolerance contaminants	Global recalls exposed benzene & benzophenone in some sunscreens.	Mandate benzene testing & tighter supply-chain audits.
Marine protection	Oxybenzone & Octinoxate damage coral; NOAA clears only non-nano ZnO & TiO₂.	Lobby for reef-safe zones (e.g., Great Barrier Reef) limited to mineral sunscreens.
Workforce UV safety	Outdoor workers drive Australia’s world-leading skin-cancer rates.	Partner with unions to supply audited mineral sunscreens onsite.

Expert Scientific Committee – Who’s Steering the Standard?

Dr Craig Downs – Ecotoxicologist; reef-safety research led to Hawaii’s sunscreen law.
Dr Yousuf Mohammed – UQ researcher & FDA adviser on topical drug delivery.
Dr Denis Dudley – OB-GYN; pioneer of mineral sunscreens for maternal-infant safety.
Dr Russell Hills – Mohs micrographic surgeon & preventive-dermatology advocate.
Dr “Rocky” Chowdhury – Toxicologist specialising in exposure-based risk assessment.

These independent scientists—not chemical-sunscreen lobbyists—ground every ASC position in toxicology, dermatology & environmental science.

Why Industry Professionals Should Care

Regulatory foresight – ASC briefings flag ingredient reviews months ahead of Gazette notices.
Market trust – Membership signals compliance with world-class safety benchmarks, boosting export credibility.
Sustainability edge – Reef-safe alignment prepares brands for regional bans on harmful filters.

Take-Home

For formulators, brand owners and raw-material suppliers committed to clean, high-performance sun protection, aligning with the ASC is a strategic investment in science, credibility & global competitiveness.

🔗 Explore the Council’s resources: [Australian Sunscreen Council Website] (https://www.australiansunscreencouncil.org/)