Line the Specifics
What the law provides
Sunscreen products, like all cosmetics, are regulated by the European Cosmetics Regulation. However, this Regulation is not the only regulatory reference. In 2006, in fact, the European Commission published a "Recommendation on the efficacy of sunscreen products and related indications" with the aim of clarifying this field and simplifying consumer choices, making it more uniform and simpler the indications on the label of sunscreen products. This Recommendation was received with favor and attention by European industry, which immediately undertook to apply it to products placed on the market.
Here are the main points envisaged by the Recommendation:
Provides precise definitions:
First of all, this document provides a precise definition of sunscreen product, understood as "any preparation (such as cream, oil, gel, spray) intended to be placed in contact with human skin, for the exclusive or principal purpose of protect it from UV rays by absorbing, dispersing or refracting them”.
Provides information on indication, protection, precautions for use and instructions for use:
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specifies that sunscreen products must protect against both UVB and UVA rays; UVA protection must be at least equal to 1/3 of that UVB;
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establishes that wording such as "total screen" or "total protection", which suggest 100% protection from UV rays, or "all-day prevention" cannot be used (on the label, on the package or on the container). they suggest that it is not necessary to reapply the product. In fact, this is false information;
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clarifies that the packaging should contain advice on precautions to be taken in addition to the use of sunscreen products (such as not being exposed to the sun for too long) and instructions for use (how to apply the product before exposure and reapply it frequently) .
Provides indications of effectiveness:
Indications relating to the effectiveness of sunscreens should be simple and clear. First, it states that the effectiveness of sunscreen products should be labeled as low, medium, high, and very high.
Provides explanations on sun protection factor:
A fundamental element that consumers have available when they have to choose a sunscreen is the so-called SPF value. It is a numerical value that measures the protective capacity of the product against UVB rays.
The SPF is defined as the ratio between the Minimum Erythematogenous Dose (MED) of the area protected by the product and the Minimum Erythematogenous Dose of the unprotected area of the same subject. The protection factor is very important: the higher it is, the greater it will be. the amount of UV light needed to induce erythema on protected skin.
A product with SPF 30 means that the dose of UV needed to develop a rash with protection is 30 times higher than without protection. The same reasoning applies to protection 50. The higher the SPF value, the higher the percentage of solar rays filtered by the product and the protection guaranteed to the skin.