RI senator helps change sunscreen reg's

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Food and Drug Administration has announced new sunscreen regulations that will help enforce comprehensive testing and prevent misleading labeling on products.

The FDA has changed its sunscreen product standards, to now require thorough testing on products labeled for containing both UVA and UVB protection. If a product does not protect against ultraviolet B rays, it must carry a warning label, explaining that it will not prevent skin cancer or aging.

The new regulations will also prevent a product from being labeled as "waterproof" or "sweatproof", unless it can back up the claims with proper test results.

Products that meet the new standards will state on the label: "as directed with other sun protection measures decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun."

Products that do not meet the standards for UVA/UVB testing will have to warn consumers: "Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging."

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Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed (D) has long been an advocate of the changes . He himself authored the proposed Sunscreen Labeling Protection Act.

"This is a victory for consumers that is long overdue. It will help prevent more Americans from getting burned. These new sunscreen standards are going to give consumers better, more accurate information. By next summer products that don't meet these standards will be taken off the shelves, or exposed for offering inadequate protection," said Reed.