Media release
Cancer society asked to provide sunscreen results
The Commerce Commission has asked the Cancer Society for information about the alleged failure of one its sunscreen
products, and what the society is doing about the problem.
The Commission's request to the Cancer Society follows testing carried out by the Consumers' Institute, and reported in
the media, which alleges the Cancer Society's SPF 30+ Trigger Spray Sunscreen does not live up to its SPF claim.
The Commission has today written to the Cancer Society asking for test results relating to the product, and information
on action the Society is taking to ensure other products meet their SPF claims.
This follows the Commission testing of a range of sunscreen products from four companies, after a complaint from the
Cancer Society that the products could not offer "all day protection" as claimed.
That investigation concluded that some of the products did not meet the claims made, and therefore breached the Fair
Trading Act.
Businesses must be sure facts and claims made about a product are true, and do not create a misleading impression.
Making misleading claims can be in breach of the Fair Trading Act, which is punishable by fines of up to $60,000 for an
individual and $200,000 per offence for a company.
ENDS