Our personal war against skin cancer has reignited a deep passion to make real change.
As a united voice of healthcare professionals and advocates — Kelsey O’Donnell, a Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist; Professor Shirley Potter, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Melanoma Specialist; and Noelle O’Connor, skincare therapist and founder of TanOrganic — we are calling for a change in how SPF is taxed in Ireland. SPF should be an essential product and be treated as such by being VAT FREE.
As a skincare enthusiast and expert with over thirty-seven years of experience, and as the founder of TanOrganic. I have been dedicated to safe sunless tanning and the prevention of skin cancer and promoting safe sun practices throughout my career.
Every day, Kelsey and Shirley witness the devastating impact of skin cancer on families across the country. The evidence is clear: regular use of sunscreen significantly reduces the risk of skin cancer. And yet, in Ireland, sunscreens are still taxed with (VAT) — as if they are a luxury rather than a lifesaving essential.
Ireland has the highest rate of deaths in Europe from aggressive skin cancer. Incidences of melanoma in Ireland have reached record highs and epidemic levels.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) expects this number to double by 2040.
Nine out of every 10 cases are caused by UV rays. The rise in melanomas has affected men more than women, with incidence rates in men rising.
We are calling on the Irish government, public health leaders, and the general public to stand with us in demanding that SPF products be classed as essential items and be made VAT-free. This is a public health intervention.
We urge the government to:
1. Reclassify sunscreen as an essential healthcare product
2. Remove VAT on SPF products immediately
3. Support a national awareness campaign on sun protection
This tax penalizes those most vulnerable — families on lower incomes, outdoor workers, children, and people with fair or sensitive skin. It sends the wrong message: that sun protection is optional. But sun safety is not a luxury; it is essential.
Let’s make it a priority and more affordable for everyone to protect their skin and prevent avoidable illness.
Let’s save lives — not tax them.
Please sign this petition and support our call to make SPF an essential product and VAT-free in Ireland. Together, we can prevent skin cancer, protect our communities, and create lasting change.