---
title: 'SPF, UVA and Broad Spectrum: how sunscreen labels work in the US, UK, EU and Australia (plus Japan and Korea PA)'
url: https://joelin.cc/en/p/200100
source: https://joelin.cc/en/p/200100
lang: en
pubDate: '2026-10-27'
date_modified: '2026-10-27'
description: 'SPF measures sunburn (UVB) protection. UVA labels vary: Broad Spectrum in the US and Australia, a UVA circle in the EU and UK, PA+ to PA++++ in Japan and Korea.'
schema_type: BlogPosting
ai_role: ai_only
translation_assistant: caddy
ai_credit: 'AI-assisted writing and editing: Caddy (AI)'
faq:
  - q: What is the difference between SPF and UVA protection?
    a: 'SPF measures protection against UVB, the rays that cause sunburn. The number comes from a human test: how many times more UV it takes to redden skin with the sunscreen on. UVA protection covers the rays linked to tanning, and every region labels it differently: Broad Spectrum in the US, Canada and Australia, a UVA circle in the EU, and PA+ to PA++++ in Japan and Korea.'
  - q: What does Broad Spectrum mean on a US sunscreen?
    a: It is a tested claim, not marketing. Under 21 CFR 201.327, a product can say Broad Spectrum only if its mean critical wavelength is 370 nm or greater. Products that fail the test, or have an SPF below 15, must carry a Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert warning.
  - q: What does the UVA circle on European sunscreens mean?
    a: 'Under Recommendation 2006/647/EC, the UVA protection should be at least one third of the labelled SPF and the critical wavelength at least 370 nm. A product that meets this can show the UVA logo issued by Cosmetics Europe: the letters UVA inside a circle.'
  - q: What is the highest SPF a sunscreen can show?
    a: In the EU, Australia, Japan and Korea the top label is SPF 50+. The EU and Australia require a measured SPF of 60 or higher for 50+, while Korea labels any SPF of 50 or higher as 50+. Canada's monograph says values greater than 50 are declared as SPF 50+. The current US rules set no maximum, which is why SPF 70 or 100 appears only there. The FDA proposed an SPF 60+ cap in 2021; as of October 2026 that part was still not final.
  - q: Can a sunscreen be labelled waterproof?
    a: Not in the US. The FDA lists waterproof, sweatproof and sunblock as claims that make a product misbranded; the label can only say Water Resistant (40 minutes) or Water Resistant (80 minutes). Australia allows water resistance claims of up to 4 hours. The EU recommendation sets no water-resistance format.
  - q: What does PA++++ mean?
    a: PA is the UVA grade used in Japan and South Korea. PA++++ is the top grade and means a UVA protection factor of 16 or more. You will not see PA on most US, UK, EU or Australian labels, because those markets use their own UVA marks.
based_on:
  - /p/10000
---

# SPF, UVA and Broad Spectrum: how sunscreen labels work in the US, UK, EU and Australia (plus Japan and Korea PA)

SPF tells you how well a sunscreen protects against UVB, the rays that cause sunburn. The UVA mark tells you whether it also protects against UVA, the rays linked to tanning. SPF is tested in much the same way worldwide, so an SPF 50 means roughly the same thing everywhere. UVA is a different story: each region prints it differently. Think of it as one exam with a different-looking report card in each country.

On the shelf, that means: in the US, Canada and Australia look for the words Broad Spectrum; in the EU look for the letters UVA in a circle; in the UK you may see the circle or a UVA star rating; in Japan and Korea look for PA+ to PA++++.

![Sunscreen labels compared in six places. United States: no SPF cap, UVA shown as Broad Spectrum, water resistance only as 40 or 80 minutes. European Union: SPF up to 50+, UVA circle, no set water-resistance format. United Kingdom: SPF labels up to 50+, UVA circle or star rating, no GB water-resistance rule found. Australia: SPF up to 50+, broad spectrum, water resistance up to 4 hours. Japan: SPF up to 50+, PA+ to PA++++, water resistance shown as one or two stars. South Korea: SPF up to 50+, PA+ to PA++++, water resistance in two grades of about 1 hour and about 2 hours.](https://image.joelin.cc/cdn-cgi/imagedelivery/0xu8EsaSar9n3zUKY5d7xw/joelin/2026-10/sunscreen-spf-pa-uva-labels-by-country-compare-en/hero)

*Compiled by joelin.cc, checked October 2026. Sources are linked in the article.*

The chart in one line: the US is the only place with no SPF cap, so SPF 70 and 100 only show up on US shelves; everywhere else tops out at 50+. This article only covers official labelling rules. It does not compare products and is not skin or medical advice.

## The rules where you live

English-speaking readers are spread across several markets, and each has its own regulator and its own label. The short version:

| Market | Regulator | UVA label |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | FDA (sunscreens are drugs) | Broad Spectrum |
| European Union | Cosmetics rules plus 2006/647/EC | UVA circle |
| United Kingdom | OPSS (sunscreens are cosmetics) | UVA circle or star rating |
| Australia | TGA (most sunscreens are therapeutic goods) | Broad spectrum |
| Canada | Health Canada (drugs or natural health products) | Broad spectrum |

In the EU, 2006/647/EC is a Commission Recommendation that sits on top of the cosmetics rules. The label limits differ just as much:

| Market | Highest SPF | Water claims |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | No cap under current rules | Water Resistant (40 or 80 minutes) only |
| European Union | 50+ (measured 60 or higher) | No set format in the recom­mendation |
| United Kingdom | Labels run up to 50+ | No GB-specific rule found |
| Australia | 50+ (measured 60 or higher) | Up to 4 hours |
| Canada | Over 50 is declared as 50+ | Water/Sweat Resistant 40 or 80 minutes |

The big split is legal status. In the US, Canada and Australia, a sunscreen sold mainly for sun protection is regulated like a medicine. In the EU and the UK it is a cosmetic. That is why the US and Canadian rules read like drug labels, while the European rules read like guidance on claims.

### United States: a drug with a Drug Facts label

The FDA's [consumer page on sunscreen](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun) says that in the United States, sunscreens are regulated as drugs, and it points readers to the Drug Facts label on the pack. The labelling rule is [21 CFR 201.327](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/201.327). Its key points:

- Broad Spectrum is a tested claim. A product qualifies only if its mean critical wavelength is 370 nm or greater, and the front label then reads "Broad Spectrum SPF" followed by the tested number, with nothing in between.
- Products that fail the broad-spectrum test, or have an SPF below 15, must carry a warning that begins "Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert", saying the product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn.
- Water resistance can only be labelled as "Water Resistant (40 minutes)" or "Water Resistant (80 minutes)". The FDA's consumer page puts it bluntly: there is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen.
- The rule names "sunblock", "sweatproof" and "waterproof" as claims that make a product misbranded.

There is no SPF cap under the current US rules, which is why SPF 70 and SPF 100 exist there. In 2021 the FDA proposed capping the label at SPF 60+. According to the FDA's [regulatory Q&A page](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/questions-and-answers-fdas-regulatory-actions-over-counter-sunscreen) (updated 10 September 2026), that proposal is still only a proposal. The FDA has finalised a different part of the 2021 package, removing two old ingredients, and says it will deal with the rest in a future order. As of October 2026, the SPF 60+ cap is not in force.

### European Union: the UVA circle and eight SPF numbers

The EU's sunscreen labelling is set out in [Commission Recommendation 2006/647/EC](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2006/647/oj/eng). It draws three pass lines:

- SPF of at least 6.
- UVA protection of at least one third of the labelled SPF.
- A critical wavelength of at least 370 nm.

A product that passes all three can carry the UVA logo, a circle with the letters UVA. The European Commission's [sunscreen page](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/cosmetic-products-specific-topics/sunscreen-products_en) explains that this standard logo was issued by the industry body Cosmetics Europe. For example, a product labelled SPF 50 needs a UVA protection factor of about 17 to pass.

The same recommendation limits SPF labels to eight numbers, each with a protection category:

- Low protection: SPF 6 and 10.
- Medium protection: SPF 15, 20 and 25.
- High protection: SPF 30 and 50.
- Very high protection: SPF 50+, which needs a measured SPF of 60 or higher.

It also says products should not use words such as "sunblock" or "total protection" that suggest 100% protection, or claims that suggest no need to re-apply. Strictly speaking it is a recommendation rather than binding law, but the EU has long used it as the minimum standard. It does not set a format for water-resistance claims.

### United Kingdom: cosmetics law, the same circle, and star ratings

In Great Britain, sunscreens are cosmetic products. GOV.UK's [guidance on making cosmetic products available in Great Britain](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-cosmetic-products-available-to-consumers-in-great-britain), published with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), says the rules come from Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as amended after Brexit. On claims, it says products must not imply characteristics they do not have, and businesses must be able to prove any claim they make. UV filters must follow the restrictions that apply to them.

What that guidance does not do is spell out sunscreen labelling. We found no OPSS document, as of October 2026, that says whether Recommendation 2006/647/EC or the UVA circle applies in Great Britain. So this section stops at what can be checked:

- The NHS [sunscreen and sun safety page](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/) (last reviewed 24 March 2026) describes UK labels this way: SPF is scored from 2 to 50+, UVA protection can be shown by a star rating of up to five stars, and the letters UVA in a circle indicate the product meets the EU standard.
- These UVA stars are not the same as the stars on Japanese water-resistance labels described below.
- We found no GB-specific rule on how water resistance must be worded.

### Australia: the TGA, AS/NZS 2604:2021 and 4 hours in water

In Australia, a sunscreen is either a therapeutic good or a cosmetic, depending on its ingredients, claims and SPF. The TGA's [March 2026 consultation paper](https://consultations.tga.gov.au/tga/improvements-to-regulation-of-sunscreens-in-aus/user_uploads/final---consultation---seeking-feedback-on-improvements-to-the-regulation-of-sunscreens-in-australia---v1-march-2026-2.pdf) sets out how it works:

- Primary sunscreens, sold mainly for sun protection, are regulated by the TGA as therapeutic goods. They must be listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), and the ARTG number must appear on the label.
- Some secondary products, such as moisturisers with an SPF of 15 or less and tinted foundations and lip products with an SPF up to 50+, are excluded from therapeutic goods law. For these, the ACCC oversees truth in labelling.
- All cosmetic and therapeutic sunscreens must comply with AS/NZS 2604 as adopted into therapeutic goods legislation, including its SPF and broad-spectrum testing.

AS/NZS 2604:2021 uses ISO 24444:2019 for SPF, ISO 24443:2021 for broad spectrum (UVA) and ISO 16217:2020 for water resistance. Its SPF categories, as summarised by the TGA:

- Measured SPF 1 to 3: not allowed.
- Measured SPF 4 to 14: labelled 4, 6, 8 or 10, low protection.
- Measured SPF 15 to 29: labelled 15, 20 or 25, medium or moderate protection.
- Measured SPF 30 to 59: labelled 30, 40 or 50, high protection.
- Measured SPF 60 or higher: labelled 50+, very high protection.

A water-resistance claim states how long the product stays effective in water, up to 4 hours in Australia. New products must meet the 2021 standard; products listed before 1 July 2024 can keep using SPF results from the older 2012 standard until 30 June 2029. The same paper notes that the TGA was reviewing SPF testing and labelling in 2026, so details may change.

### Canada: Health Canada's sunscreen monograph

Health Canada's [Primary Sunscreen Monograph](https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_primary-sunscreen-monograph_english.pdf) (27 February 2026) treats primary sunscreens as either non-prescription drugs or natural health products, depending on the ingredients. The labelling points:

- "Broad spectrum" is allowed for products with a critical wavelength of 370 nm or more that protect against both UVA and UVB.
- SPF values greater than 50 are declared as SPF 50+.
- Water-resistant products may say "Water/Sweat Resistant [40 minutes/80 minutes]".

## What SPF and UVA labels actually measure

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. In the test, two patches of a volunteer's back are exposed to increasing doses of UV light, one with sunscreen and one without, and the next day the tester checks which dose just turns the skin red. The number of times more UV the protected patch can take is the SPF. The method is the international standard [ISO 24444:2019](https://www.evs.ee/en/evs-en-iso-24444-2020).

Because it looks for redness, SPF mainly reflects UVB protection. The method has a known weakness: different labs testing the same product can get different numbers, and the gap grows at higher SPFs. In December 2024 ISO published two newer methods, ISO 23675 (no human subjects) and ISO 23698 (humans plus instruments). When individual countries will switch is not settled.

UVA has its own international tests. [ISO 24442:2022](https://www.evs.ee/en/evs-en-iso-24442-2022) measures the tanning response on people; [ISO 24443:2021](https://www.boutique.afnor.org/en-gb/standard/iso-244432021/cosmetics-determination-of-sunscreen-uva-photoprotection-in-vitro/xs136992/302237) uses instruments to measure how wide a band of UV the product blocks, a figure called the critical wavelength. Where countries differ is which test they pick and where they draw the pass line.

## How each region shows UVA protection

| Region | On the pack | Set by |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | Broad Spectrum | Federal rule 21 CFR 201.327 |
| European Union | UVA in a circle | Commission Recom­mendation 2006/647/EC |
| United Kingdom | UVA circle or star rating | No OPSS sunscreen rule found |
| Australia | Broad spectrum | AS/NZS 2604:2021 |
| Japan | PA+ to PA++++ | Japan Cosmetic Industry Association (industry rule) |
| South Korea | PA+ to PA++++ | Ministry of Food and Drug Safety |
| Taiwan | PA+ (needs human test data) | Taiwan FDA guideline |

Taiwan is listed because the original Chinese article was written there. In short: Japan, Korea and Taiwan grade UVA with plus signs, more pluses meaning more protection; the EU draws one pass line and prints a circle if you clear it; the US and Australia use the words Broad Spectrum to say the UVA test was passed.

### Japan and South Korea: more pluses, more UVA protection

The plus signs in PA convert a UVA protection factor into a grade. South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety [announced on 8 September 2016](https://www.mfds.go.kr/brd/m_100/view.do?seq=33335) a move to four grades, in force that December. In Japan, the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association added the fourth grade, PA++++, from January 2013 (see this [review article](https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/sccj/47/4/47_271/_article/-char/ja/) in the journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Japan). Both use the same scale:

- PA+: UVA protection factor 2 or more, under 4.
- PA++: 4 or more, under 8.
- PA+++: 8 or more, under 16.
- PA++++: 16 or more.

Japan's PA is not a government regulation. It is an industry association rule that almost everyone follows. The testing lab GBA Polska's [overview of national rules](https://gba-polska.pl/en/?p=10242) notes that Japan's PA accepts only human testing (ISO 24442).

### Taiwan: PA only with human test data

Taiwan has no UVA symbol of its own, and PA labels there mostly follow Japan and Korea. Taiwan FDA's October 2023 [product information file guideline](https://www.fda.gov.tw/tc/includes/GetFile.ashx?id=f638320954591472400) says a product may show PA+ only with human test data; a product with instrument-only UVA data may show only "★", the UK Boots star rating.

## Highest SPF and water-resistance wording compared

| Region | Highest SPF | Water label |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | No cap under current rules | Water Resistant (40 or 80 minutes) only |
| European Union | 50+ (measured 60 or higher) | No set format in the recom­mendation |
| United Kingdom | Labels run up to 50+ | No GB-specific rule found |
| Australia | 50+ (measured 60 or higher) | Up to 4 hours |
| Japan | 50+ | UV water resistance ★ or ★★ |
| South Korea | 50+ (from a measured 50 upwards) | Two grades: about 1 hour or about 2 hours |

Apart from the US, everyone caps the label at 50+. Korea's food and drug ministry explains why plainly: above SPF 50 the extra protection is small, and a big number can make people think they are fully protected. Water resistance is where the wording varies most: stars, hours or minutes.

### Japan: water resistance in stars

From December 2022 the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association introduced a "UV water resistance" mark tested under ISO 18861. A product that keeps its SPF after 40 minutes in flowing 30°C water gets ★; after 80 minutes, ★★. Older packaging could go without the mark until a transition period ended on 30 November 2024. This comes from a [WWD JAPAN report](https://www.wwdjapan.com/articles/1554563), because the association's own site was under maintenance when the original article was checked.

### South Korea: 50 or higher means 50+, and two water grades

Article 13 of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's [Regulation on the Examination of Functional Cosmetics](https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/기능성화장품심사에관한규정) says an SPF of 50 or higher, including 50 itself, is labelled SPF50+; below that, the label shows the number. The ministry's [June 2026 explanation](https://www.korea.kr/news/policyNewsView.do?newsId=148965990) gives the reason for the cap. Its [May 2024 explanation](https://www.korea.kr/news/healthView.do?newsId=148929116) sets two water-resistance grades:

- 내수성 (water resistant): after about 1 hour of repeated immersion and air drying, the product keeps at least 50% of its SPF.
- 지속내수성 (long-lasting water resistant): the same test over about 2 hours, still keeping at least 50% of its SPF.

## The UV Index is not SPF

The UV Index in a weather forecast describes how strong UV radiation is outside today. SPF and PA describe how a product performed in a lab. One measures the environment, the other measures a product, and you cannot convert one into the other. The UV Index was developed by the World Health Organization with three other international bodies; the [WHO explainer](https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) groups it into three bands, 0–2, 3–7 and 8 or above, and recommends protective measures from 3 upwards.

Keywords: SPF meaning, Broad Spectrum sunscreen, UVA circle logo, UVA star rating, PA++++ meaning, UVA vs UVB, water resistant 40 or 80 minutes, waterproof sunscreen, SPF 50+, 21 CFR 201.327, 2006/647/EC, AS/NZS 2604:2021, TGA sunscreen, Health Canada sunscreen monograph, sunscreen labelling rules

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between SPF and UVA protection?

SPF measures protection against UVB, the rays that cause sunburn. The number comes from a human test: how many times more UV it takes to redden skin with the sunscreen on. UVA protection covers the rays linked to tanning, and every region labels it differently: Broad Spectrum in the US, Canada and Australia, a UVA circle in the EU, and PA+ to PA++++ in Japan and Korea.

### What does Broad Spectrum mean on a US sunscreen?

It is a tested claim, not marketing. Under 21 CFR 201.327, a product can say Broad Spectrum only if its mean critical wavelength is 370 nm or greater. Products that fail the test, or have an SPF below 15, must carry a Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert warning.

### What does the UVA circle on European sunscreens mean?

Under Recommendation 2006/647/EC, the UVA protection should be at least one third of the labelled SPF and the critical wavelength at least 370 nm. A product that meets this can show the UVA logo issued by Cosmetics Europe: the letters UVA inside a circle.

### What is the highest SPF a sunscreen can show?

In the EU, Australia, Japan and Korea the top label is SPF 50+. The EU and Australia require a measured SPF of 60 or higher for 50+, while Korea labels any SPF of 50 or higher as 50+. Canada's monograph says values greater than 50 are declared as SPF 50+. The current US rules set no maximum, which is why SPF 70 or 100 appears only there. The FDA proposed an SPF 60+ cap in 2021; as of October 2026 that part was still not final.

### Can a sunscreen be labelled waterproof?

Not in the US. The FDA lists waterproof, sweatproof and sunblock as claims that make a product misbranded; the label can only say Water Resistant (40 minutes) or Water Resistant (80 minutes). Australia allows water resistance claims of up to 4 hours. The EU recommendation sets no water-resistance format.

### What does PA++++ mean?

PA is the UVA grade used in Japan and South Korea. PA++++ is the top grade and means a UVA protection factor of 16 or more. You will not see PA on most US, UK, EU or Australian labels, because those markets use their own UVA marks.

Sources: Checked on 27 October 2026. Main sources: the US rule 21 CFR 201.327 and two FDA pages (the regulatory Q&A updated 10 September 2026 and the consumer page); EU Commission Recommendation 2006/647/EC and the European Commission sunscreen page; GOV.UK guidance on cosmetic products in Great Britain and the NHS sunscreen page; the TGA consultation paper of March 2026 summarising AS/NZS 2604:2021; Health Canada's Primary Sunscreen Monograph of 27 February 2026; Korea's Regulation on the Examination of Functional Cosmetics (Article 13); and, for the rest of Japan and Korea, the sources cited in the original Chinese article. Things that may change: the FDA's 2021 proposal for an SPF 60+ cap, the TGA's 2026 review of sunscreen regulation, and Australia's transition period, which runs to 30 June 2029. We found no OPSS guidance that says whether Recommendation 2006/647/EC applies in Great Britain.

AI-assisted writing and editing: Caddy (AI)

Sources: [10000](/p/10000)