Several cancer charities are calling for value added tax (VAT) to be scrapped from sunscreen to make it more affordable.
Currently, sunscreen is classed as a ‘cosmetic’ product and carries a 20% tax paid by consumers, but charities want the products to be VAT exempt so they’re more accessible. They are worried that if people cannot afford sunscreen, skin cancer cases may rise.
Dr Louise Soanes, chief nurse at the Teenage Cancer Trust, commented, “Preventing skin cancer by using an effective sun cream is essential, and sun cream shouldn’t be a luxury that only some can afford.”
Consultant dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips has commented, “This is a really great initiative; of course, anything that helps to decrease the incidence of skin cancer in the UK gets my approval! Making suncare more affordable is a great step towards encouraging more people to use sunscreen and applying it effectively is equally as important.”
Lorna Bowes, retired nurse practitioner and founder of skincare distribution company AestheticSource, shared, “The more we understand about the damage UVA and UVB cause, and the more we know about how SPF can protect against that damage, the more we should all be wearing it on sun exposed skin all the time. It would be a reasonable argument that sun protection is vital, therefore SPF should be available on prescription for those whose jobs leave them with excessive exposure and risk. Removing the VAT would be a great step in the right direction.”
An HM Treasury spokesperson said, “We recognise the impact that rising prices are having at home which is why we are providing significant support worth on average £3,300 per household. High-factor sunscreen is on the NHS prescription list for certain conditions and is already provided VAT free when dispensed by a pharmacist to these patients.”
