Two sunscreens sold widely across New Zealand have been urgently recalled after independent testing revealed they may not offer the level of sun protection advertised.
Product Safety NZ said several batches of Aspect Sun’s Physical Sun Protection SPF50+ and Tinted Physical SPF50+ products had been recalled.
“Preliminary results received from an independent laboratory show that the SPF level in these two products is unlikely to meet the labelled SPF rating,” it said in a statement.
“A low SPF rating may increase the risk of sunburn during use and reduce the long-term effectiveness of preventing skin cancer.”
The products were sold at more than 250 retailers nationwide between November 2022 and August 2025, with a full list available here.
Batch numbers for Aspect Sun’s Physical Sun Protection SPF50+ product include A2450, A2190, A1958 and A1492.
The affected batch numbers for Aspect Sun’s Tinted Physical SPF50+ are A2451, A2191, A1976 and A1629.
Consumers were urged to stop using the affected products immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Retailers were instructed to remove the products from sale.
The New Zealand recall followed a similar move in Australia, where the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced a recall of the same products and batches last Friday.
The TGA warned that additional sunscreens may be added to the recall list in the coming weeks.
In a statement on its website, Aspect Sun said it was taking the matter seriously.
“As a brand committed to sun safety and skin health, we are not satisfied with these outcomes and wish to act immediately. We have been working closely with the TGA and are now implementing an urgent recall.”
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