PA Rating Meaning: Sunscreen Labels in Korea, the EU and US

A PA rating shows a sunscreen’s UVA protection; SPF shows its UVB protection. Korea grades UVA protection in four steps, PA+ to PA++++, based on the measured UVA protection factor, and labels any SPF of 50 or more as “SPF50+”.

The same product must meet different rules elsewhere: the EU recommends protection categories such as “high” and a minimum UVA ratio, and the US requires a “Broad Spectrum” test. That is why a Korean sunscreen label cannot simply be translated for export. Here is the PA rating meaning and a side-by-side comparison of the three systems.

PA rating meaning: four grades of UVA protection

A 2016 press release from Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that the UVA grade scale was expanded from three to four steps:

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

The release explains that SPF relates to UVB, which reddens skin, and PA to UVA, which darkens it.

Korea’s current Regulation on the Review of Functional Cosmetics requires the SPF to be labelled as a whole number within 20% below the measured mean, with “SPF50+” for 50 and above.

“Water resistant” and “long-lasting water resistant” may be claimed when the confidence interval of the water-resistance ratio is 50% or more. As supporting data it accepts the regulation’s own Annex 3 method or international methods such as ISO 24444 for SPF and ISO 24442 for UVA.

PA rating and SPF labels compared

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

EU: categories and the one-third UVA rule

Commission Recommendation 2006/647/EC (text of the recommendation (PDF))¹ says sunscreens should protect against both UVB and UVA, and sets minimums of SPF 6, a UVA protection factor of one third of the SPF, and a critical wavelength of 370 nm.

It recommends restricting labelled SPFs to 6 and 10 (low), 15, 20 and 25 (medium), 30 and 50 (high) and 50+ (very high), with the category shown at least as prominently as the SPF.

The same text says no claim should imply 100% protection, such as “sunblock”, “sunblocker” or “total protection”, or that reapplication is never needed, and it recommends directions such as applying before exposure, reapplying after sweating or swimming and using enough product. Consultancy Biorius notes that the circled UVA logo is voluntary.

US: the Broad Spectrum label

According to the FDA’s Q&A on its 2011 sunscreen requirements, the broad spectrum test measures UVA protection relative to UVB protection, and only products that pass may say “Broad Spectrum SPF [value]”.

Only Broad Spectrum products with SPF 15 or higher may claim to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin ageing; others may only claim to help prevent sunburn. Water resistance must be stated as 40 or 80 minutes, and “waterproof”, “sweatproof” and “sunblock” are not allowed.

The FDA’s current regulatory Q&A adds that its 2021 proposed order would require broad spectrum protection for all products of SPF 15 or more and set a maximum labelled SPF of 60+. These are proposals, so check the final position before shipping to the US.

What buyers should check on a Korean sunscreen label

• PA++++ is a Korean grade. It does not automatically carry over to EU or US labels; ask whether test data exist for the target market’s method.
• SPF numbers may need to change to fit the EU’s recommended values.
• “Broad Spectrum” or a UVA logo on your local label needs the supporting tests.
• Filter approval is a separate question: see mineral vs chemical sunscreen.

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