Sunscreen Photo: RNZ
*The last paragraph of this story has been corrected, to attribute the quote to Belinda Castles.
Consumer NZ has made an online database which will let New Zealanders choose sunscreen brands that are transparent about product testing.
The database has details about the sunscreens' ingredients, SPF, water-resistance claims and their type and price.
More than 90 companies who sell sunscreen in New Zealand were asked for information about when and where their products have been tested.
But this isn't a requirement under the mandatory sunscreen standard.
Consumer NZ research and test writer Belinda Castles said more than 90 percent of people think companies should regularly test their products to ensure claims on the label are true.
"Our independent testing over many years has found companies often rely on tests that are several years old to support claims. We don't think this is good enough for a product that needs to protect us from the sun's harmful UV rays," Castles said.
"Thirty brands came back to us with up-to-date information about their tests, product ingredients and claims. We have compiled this information into our new database, which is free and available to all New Zealanders."
But not all brands provided details including Nivea, Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, which would not say when or where their products were tested.
Cosmetics NZ general manager Martha van Arts said a lot of the information around these products was already publicly available.
Since 8 September, all SPF sunscreens in New Zealand must comply with the Sunscreen Act 2022.
The new standards meant all brands were required to to met at least SPF29, with insect repellents also needing to be at at least SPF4 or higher.
Companies were also required to label the SPF clearly with concise instructions on how to apply the product effectively.
It also meant tightening rules around product performance such as making sure there has been thorough, consistent and internationally recognised testing.
Van Arts said Cosmetics NZ has been advocating for the change for a long time.
"Whether a sunscreen is a global brand or independent brand with small distribution, it must be tested for safety and efficacy, specifically with regards to SPF claims.
Castles said until now, it had been impossible for consumers to know when or where a product was tested. "We have designed and created this database to give New Zealanders the information they want and need," she said.
