Melanoma Focus Trustee Dr Miranda Payne Calls for VAT on Sunscreen to be Scrapped Across National Television

Melanoma Focus Trustee Dr Miranda Payne has appeared across national television to support the campaign for the: Axe the SPF Tax!

Rather than being treated as a luxury product, Melanoma Focus is supporting the call for sunscreen to be recognised as an essential part of skin cancer prevention.

In 2024, Melanoma Focus commissioned independent health-economic research from Alma Economics to examine the potential impact of removing VAT from SPF30+ sunscreen in the UK. The research found that cutting the VAT could save the NHS more than £128 million every year in skin cancer treatment costs. 

The research also estimated that removing VAT could help prevent approximately 2,500 – 3,200 cases of melanoma each year over the following decade, while potentially saving around 300 lives annually.

Importantly, the modelling found that the potential NHS savings would outweigh the VAT revenue lost to the Treasury. The research estimated that the annual VAT revenue currently generated from sunscreen is around £67 million, compared with more than £128 million in potential annual NHS treatment cost savings.

Making Sunscreen More Affordable

The cost of sunscreen is an important consideration when it comes to skin cancer prevention.

A 2025 survey carried out for Melanoma Focus found that 56% of respondents would be more likely to use sunscreen regularly if it was 20% cheaper.

People on the lowest incomes are also less likely to use sunscreen, making affordability an important public health issue. Melanoma Focus believes that reducing the cost of SPF30+ sunscreen could help remove one of the barriers preventing people from protecting their skin.

From Research into Action

Melanoma Focus has been supporting the campaign for the removal of VAT on high-factor sunscreen as part of its wider work to prevent melanoma and raise awareness of the importance of sun protection.

Our commissioned health-economic research provides an important evidence base for this campaign, demonstrating that removing VAT could deliver both significant public health benefits and potential savings for the NHS.

The campaign is being driven by Jessica Zbinden-Webster, who has made the issue personal following her own experience with skin cancer.

Jessica created the Axe the SPF Tax, calling for VAT on sunscreen to be remove and highlighting the importance of making effective sun protection accessible to everyone.

She has now taken the campaign forward to Parliament.

Melanoma Focus is proud to support Jessica’s campaign and contribute the evidence needed to demonstrate why action on sunscreen affordability matters.

Why Does this Matter?

Melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer, but a significant proportion of cases can be prevented through effective sun protection. Melanoma Focus is committed to prevention, early detection, patient support, professional education and research, as well as advocating for changes that could improve public health.

Removing VAT from SPF 30+ sunscreen is one part of a wider approach to reducing the burden of melanoma.

The evidence is there. The potential health benefits are clear. Now we need action.

Melanoma Focus would like to thank Dr Miranda Payne for representing Melanoma Focus across national television and Jessica Zbinden-Webster for continuing to lead the public campaign to Axe the SPF Tax.