First things first – let’s talk all things TGA. More formally known by its slightly-less-sexy name, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, this all-important Australian government body is responsible for regulating therapeutic goods such as prescription medicines, vaccines, vitamins and of course, sunscreens. Any product that falls into this category must be listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before it can be supplied in Australia, and let’s just say, there is a really strict process in terms of what can and cannot be listed – and for good reason. We know how dangerous UV rays can be for our skin, so the TGA ensures that only the highest quality, verified SPF products can be sold in Australia.
So, if you purchase SPF elsewhere in the world, while it may have passed the local country's testing and regulations, there's no guarantee it would also pass the Australian test. For instance, if you purchase a product from overseas that is labelled as an SPF30, and you’re wondering why it’s not stocked at MECCA – or elsewhere in Australia – it’s likely because it doesn’t meet Australian regulatory standards.
