UK Cancer Charities Want Tax On Sunscreen Scrapped

Value-added tax - better known as VAT - should be scrapped on sunscreen to make it more affordable, say several UK cancer charities.

Photo Insert: Value-added tax - better known as VAT - should be scrapped on sunscreen to make it more affordable, say several UK cancer charities.

Sunscreen is classified as a "cosmetic" product and carries a 20% tax, adding around £1.50 to the cost of a bottle, Michelle Roberts reported for BBC on May 15, 2023.

Charities want high-factor protective creams to be VAT exempt, citing the cost-of-living crisis which has seen many struggling to buy essential items. Most skin cancers are caused by sun damage.

There are several types of skin cancer, and melanoma is the most dangerous, as well as the most common type among young people in the UK - with cases on the rise. If untreated, the cancer can spread to other areas of the body.

Sunbeds also increase the risk of skin cancer, with some delivering greater doses of UV rays than the midday tropical sun.

"Few realize that getting painful sunburn just once every two years can triple your risk of skin cancer," said Dr Louise Soanes, Chief Nurse, Teenage Cancer Trust. "Preventing skin cancer by using an effective sun cream is essential - and sun cream shouldn't be a luxury that only some can afford."

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