FDA Makes New Rules On Sun Protection Products Federal
regulators provided new rules on Tuesday to require sunscreen
manufacturers to test their products’ effectiveness against sun
rays. The Food and Drug Administration also announced stricter
guidelines when describing how well their products block
ultraviolet B rays. Sunscreens that do not protect against both
ultraviolet A and B rays and have a sun protection factor (SPF)
below 15 will have to carry a warning label that reads:Â “This
product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin
cancer or early skin aging.” The FDA currently only requires
testing for ultraviolet B rays that cause sunburn.Â That is what
the familiar SPF measure is based on. However, new regulations
require testing for more dangerous ultraviolet A rays, which can
penetrate glass and are most commonly linked to wrinkles and
skin cancer. The FDA will also be prohibiting sunscreen
marketing claims like “waterproof” and “sweatproof,” which the
agency said “are exaggerations of pe