The AAD withdraws Seal of Recognition program for sunscreen
The AAD seal, which currently has four participants, is awarded to products that meet stringent scientific criteria for sun protection. The program is designed to help consumers make informed choices about sun protection products.
Criticism of the program
Last year, Skin and Allergy News reported that certain members of the Academy had criticized the program due to the fact manufacturers were required to pay a sizeable amount to feature the seal on their products.
Manufacturers were obliged to pay $5,000 for the application of the seal, $10,000 on approval of the application and a further $10,000 a year later.
Academy member, the late Dr Ackerman, said in an interview last year that
"The Academy has conflicts of interest because it takes money from manufacturers of sunscreens in exchange for the Seal of Recognition - and then it promotes the sunscreens."
However, AAD president David M. Parsier told CosmeticsDesign that the decision to phase out the seal over a two year period was not related to criticism of the program.
“Given its low participation levels, the initial public education goals of the program have not been met over the past three years,” he explained.
This, together with the prospect of an FDA sunscreen monograph led the decision to withdraw the program, he said.
FDA monograph
The academy said it expects that the FDA sunscreen monograph will provide additional guidance to manufacturers regarding sunscreen product development and testing, as well as helping consumers choose effective sun-protection products through new product labeling.
However, it is not certain when the sunscreen monograph will be published. Shelly Burgess, on behalf of the FDA, said: “We are working diligently to complete the final rule as soon as possible.”
The AAD is no longer accepting new applications for the program, but products that were accepted onto the program prior to 15 November 2009 will continue to carry the seal of recognition until the end of their two year terms, it stated.
The Academy’s resources will now be focused on “enhancing its other public education efforts to increase awareness of the dangers of excessive sun exposure and to encourage positive behavior change with respect to sun protection”, according to Parsier.
