The Scandal Crossed the Tasman: 11 NZ Sunscreens Flagged After Australian Tests
Sunscreens cross borders, so a failed test in Australia became a warning for New Zealand shoppers too.
On June 12, 2025 Consumer NZ identified 11 sunscreens sold in New Zealand - across Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, Invisible Zinc, Nivea, Neutrogena, Sun Bum, Ultra Violette and Woolworths - that didn't meet their SPF claims in Australian CHOICE testing, and asked the Commerce Commission to investigate possible Fair Trading Act breaches.
Consumer NZ argued that products failing SPF claims could amount to misleading conduct under the Fair Trading Act, and called on the Commerce Commission to investigate on behalf of New Zealand shoppers.
Questions we get a lot
Which sunscreens were flagged in New Zealand?
Consumer NZ named 11 products sold in New Zealand spanning brands including Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, Invisible Zinc, Nivea, Neutrogena, Sun Bum, Ultra Violette and Woolworths. They were flagged because they failed their SPF claims in Australian CHOICE testing. The full list was published by Consumer NZ on June 12, 2025.
Why did an Australian test matter for New Zealand?
Many of the same sunscreen products are sold on both sides of the Tasman, so failures uncovered in Australia's CHOICE testing apply directly to New Zealand shelves. That's why Consumer NZ raised the alarm domestically. It then escalated the issue to regulators.
What did Consumer NZ ask regulators to do?
Consumer NZ asked the Commerce Commission to investigate whether the SPF-claim failures breached the Fair Trading Act, which addresses misleading conduct. The request aimed to push for accountability on label accuracy. Coverage of the call appeared on June 12, 2025.
r/newzealand: 'My usual sunscreen is on the Consumer NZ list - is it actually unsafe or just under its claim?'