The manufacturers say ...

TROPITONE AND EVERYSUN

Deona Janneke, consumer relations manager for Inco Brands, which makes Tropitone and Everysun, said the company had not used octocrylene or oxybenzone in its products since 2016, but that some old stock might still be on shelves.

However, even this old stock is “safe for use in the cosmetic products as per Colipa [the European Cosmetic and Perfumery Association] and European regulations”.

“All Everysun products were reformulated and introduced to the market in the second quarter of 2017. Our products are CANSAapproved and endorsed by a dermatologist. Since the reformulation of the product it no longer contains OC [octocrylene] or BP-3 [oxybenzone],” she said.

NIVEA

Kerstin Bird, marketing director for Beiersdorf, makers of Nivea, said: “Nivea Sun products do include octocrylene, as this ingredient is considered safe for adults and children when applied under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.

“Octocrylene generally shows a low rate of adverse skin reactions, which should also be weighted to the benefit of sunscreens to prevent UV-induced skin reactions, including the prevention of skin cancer.”

CLICKS

Clicks spokesperson Susann Caminada said the chain’s SunProtect brand was endorsed by CANSA and followed strict safety testing protocols.

“All SunProtect stock that has been manufactured since 2017 is BP-3 [oxybenzone] free. We are currently phasing this in, and have both BP-3containing and BP-3-free stock on the shelf. Eighty percent of Clicks SunProtect [stock] is BP-3-free and the remaining 20% is formulated within safe limits and is clearly marked with the warning ‘Contains BP-3’,” she said.

SunProtect products contained between 3.85% and 10% of octocrylene and octinoxate, depending on the SPF (sun protection factor), she said.

DIS-CHEM

Dis-Chem investor relations manager Leandri van Jaarsveld said that, following consultations with CANSA, it had been decided to remove oxybenzone and octinoxate from Dis-Chem suncare formulations.

“This took place in 2016, although there may still be old packaging in circulation. The new guidelines drawn up by the CTFA [Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Association of SA] have proposed lowering the allowed dosage of BP-3 from 10% to 6%. This has not yet been promulgated by the department of health. All the relevant documentation including formulation and raw material details for the new formulations have been submitted to and approved by CANSA.”

She said octocrylene was in the formulation “and is allowed for use in sunscreen products at levels considered safe by the CTFA”.

“Dis-Chem products are formulated with strict adherence to the regulatory guidelines. UV filters are only used within allowable limits … they are considered safe for the environment and consumer use.”

TECHNIBLOCK

Techniblock said: “We are busy with our annual review, working closely with our raw material and ingredient suppliers, BASF being one, together with other related parties.”

ISLAND TRIBE

Adcock Ingram corporate communications manager Kavitha Kalicharan said the company acquired the Island Tribe brand in March last year and was “compliant with CANSA’s directive, and all sunscreen products manufactured from March 2017 onwards are oxybenzone-free”.

She said octocrylene and octinoxate were still used in the products, but in quantities “below the regulated percentages”.

“The Island Tribe SPF 50 gel is an exception as Adcock Ingram elected to remove [octinoxate] from the formulation in order to make the product ‘reef safe’ when it was reformulated in March 2017.”

Piz Buin did not respond to questions.