FDA Postpones New Sunscreen Regulations
Till December?!?
Posted by The Baby News
After pondering the accuracy of sunblock labels since 1978, last June the FDA announced new rules designed to make labeling accurately reflect protection level. The new labeling was to be legally required next month, just in time for Summer 2012. But the FDA decided to extend that deadline, giving the beauty and pharmaceutical industry until December 2012 to devise clear labels. Last week, the FDA announced it was postponing the deadline to December 201.
POW! The Environmental Working Group hit back with its own test of more than 800 sunscreens to see how many deliver the protection advertised on their labels. The EWG test included products for babies and small children.
The sunscreen industry got about a D+ on the EWG report card - only 25% of the products met the organization's strict standards for effectiveness and safety. "But we're happy to report that's actually progress!" the report proclaimed. "This time last year we could only recommend 20 percent of the sun protection products we evaluated."
You can review the products the EWG found offer the best protection for you and your children (and also search for for own makeup and moisturizers by brand name) on
the organization's website
The EWG also offered crucial tips for applying sunscreen to infants and toddlers:
- The label says the sunscreen takes effect in 15 minutes? Forget it! Babies and toddlers burn faster than adults.
- Use sunblock containing zinc and titanium. The EWG says it is the best protection.
- Don't trust SPF ratings. The EWG found that many sunscreens claiming SPF 30 and higher offer so little protection that they could not be sold in Europe where standards are higher for truth-in-labeling.
- Avoid spray and powder sunscreens since children might inhale the particles.
- Avoid sunscreen containing oxybenzone, an active ingredient found in more than half the sport sunscreens, the EWG urges parents. Some studies say that, like BPA, oxybenzone mimics estrogen and can cause hormonal disruption in children.
- Never use sunscreen on babies under 6 months old.
3 back to toddler
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