EditorCall to scrap VAT on sunscreen as skin cancer rates rise in Wales
The South Wales West politician pressed Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford in the Senedd this week after earlier calls to treat sunscreen as a health essential rather than a cosmetic product.
Mr Drakeford confirmed that Treasury officials had told Welsh Government there were “no plans” to change VAT rules. But he added he was prepared to raise the issue again with new ministers in London, following Ms Williams’ intervention.
“Not a luxury”
Ms Williams said sunscreen should be seen as a life‑saving product, not a luxury item:
“Skin cancer is almost entirely preventable, and yet it currently accounts for almost half of all cancers in Wales. The high cost is stopping some people from practising good skin safety – trying to make it go further by not applying enough, not regularly enough, or not at all.”
She added that removing VAT could encourage more people to use sunscreen properly and reduce pressure on the NHS.
Cancer rates and cost concerns
- Wales has the highest rate of skin cancer of any UK nation, according to Public Health Wales.
- Research by the charity Melanoma Focus found half of people in the UK think sunscreen is too expensive, while one in ten don’t use it at all because of the cost.
What happens next
Mr Drakeford told the Senedd he would be “willing to raise the point” again with the Treasury, given the arguments put forward and recent changes in personnel.
Campaigners say the move could make a practical difference to families struggling with the cost of living, while also helping to cut avoidable cancer cases.
Related sun safety stories
New study says Welsh primary school pupils need to get ‘sunproofed’
Swansea University research found fewer than half of Welsh primary schools have a sun safety policy in place for pupils.
Boots will no longer sell its own-brand sun cream with an SPF lower than 15
High street chemist Boots phases out lower SPF products to encourage safer sun protection, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.
Popular sunscreens failing to live up to sun protection claims, Which? reveals
Consumer tests found some big-name products did not meet their advertised SPF or UVA protection levels.
Health board issues warning after child sunburn cases at Swansea hospital burns unit
Doctors at Morriston Hospital urged parents to take extra care after several youngsters were admitted with severe sunburn.
#HMTreasury #MarkDrakeford #MelanomaFocus #PublicHealthWales #SionedWilliamsMS #skinCancer #sunscreen #suntan #suntanLotion #tax #UKGovernment #VAT #WelshGovernment
