Sunscreen ad row brings regulatory gaps to the fore

FMCG firms seek performance-based standards; small players resist move

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

THE RECENT ADVERTISING dispute between Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Honasa Consumer, the maker of Mamaearth brand of products, has shifted attention to regulatory gaps with regard to sunscreens, valued at ₹2,500 crore in India, and growing at 30-40% per annum.

While the ad dispute between the two personal care majors was settled last month after legal intervention, FMCG firms under the Indian Beauty and Hygiene Association (IBHA) are asking for stricter rules when it comes to sun protection factor (SPF) testing, persons in the know said. SPF is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun, which can cause sunburn, damage skin and can contribute to skin cancer.