SPF ratings on locally available sunscreens - Germany

Anyone figured out the German Sun Protection Factor used in local suncreens here?
In Australia, we always used products that met the Australian Standard SPF 30 on our kids which was a complete block. (We've got 3 pale, blonde kids who turn red like tomatoes out in the sun!)

Here I've found SPF 50 and SPF 30 so I am guessing SPF 30 in Germany can't be a complete block. Am I right in assuming that the Germans use a different SPF scale than Australia and New Zealand? Is a SPF 50 the highest I will get here, or is there something better?

Thanks in advance! Have had slip-slop-slap drummed into me and my kids so want to be sure we are doing the right thing here. So far they are the only kids in their kindergarten with hats on for outside play at noon ... the locals think I'm mad!
/Mo3

SPF 30 is not complete block. SPF is a fairly standard factor. I think the highest you can get today is like 65 or 68. A couple of years ago, it only went up to 55.

From Wikipedia:

This stuff is good. SPF 40.
Babylove-Sonnencreme

I'm gonna go out on a limb and opine that the sun's not as strong here as it is in Australia -- and we don't have that ozone layer hole either. We're at latitude 48 abouts... what's your home latitude?

The CoTZ stuff is also good. In fact, that is probably what I am going to put on my son in the morning before he goes to kindergarten. They are going to the zoo tomorrow and this is the time of the season that will fool you. You won't even feel it, but you can get burnt quite quickly.

You can buy more than SPF30 in Australia and NZ - I've bought Neutrogena fresh cooling body mist sunblock there (and amazing stuff it is too - would love to get it here) in 30 and 45 there and even the cream as factor 70, which I also have.
You can buy higher SPFs but whether you will need them is a moot issue, that UV blast effect that you get down under due to the lack of an ozone layer there just isn't the same. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy the best you can get though if you're serious about protection.
Read the info on international sunscreens from Cancer Council Australia.
While the cheapo brands such as Rossmann/Müller Sun Dance, Müller own brand, Aldi and Lidl get rave reviews in the consumer tests, for really high SPFs you may want to check out your local pharmacy. The product range many rave about is La Roche-Posay Antihélios which is widely available in pharmacies here and will cost about 15-20€ a bottle. Not cheap, but really effective against UVA and UVB so is often recommended to those with scarring issues.
You might also want to have a chat with a Hautarzt or your pharmacist for further info as well.

You can check the current UV Index published by the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz. Yesterday in Munich, it was 5 or "medium" (meaning avoid the sun at midday and use protection). The Bundesamt recommends doubling the UV index to know the neccessary LSF factor, for people with sensitive skin it should be at least 15.

The consensus also seems to be that textiles are the most effective protection, especially loose clothes in darker colors. A cap is a good way to protect the prominent parts of the face.

One other thing to consider is that chemical sunscreens that permeate the skin are more likely to cause allergies than physical sunscreens that use titanium oxide or zinc oxide. So it makes sense to use sunscreen designed especially for children.

Don't forget to enjoy the sun, we don't get that much of it in Germany.

Tchibo.de are doing some anti-UV kids' clothing (scroll to bottom of page) and from my Aldi-Sued freesheet I can see that their children's sunscreens come in 30 for the milk (3.59€), 50 for the cream (4.59€) and 30 (4.99€) or 50+ for the spray (6,99€). Many like to use a cream or lotion as a basis application and then top-up with spray as is easier on the move.

Yes I think that's a really good page.

UVI of 3-5 means (it doesn't get that much higher than that in germany): Little risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Wear sunglasses and use sunscreen, cover the body with clothing and a hat, and seek shade around midday when the sun is most intense.

At this time of the year the UVI is around the same in Oz, but can get as high as 10 in december/january -> UVI 8-10: Very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Textra care — unprotected skin can burn quickly.

So you don't need that much sun protection right now, remember that some studies have shown sunscreen itself might increase the risk of skin cancer. Not a reason not to use sunscreen but better not to overdo it I guess.