Hawaii to ban sale of coral damaging sunscreens
Hawaii Gov. David Ige is expected to sign bill SB 2571 this week, which will outlaw sunscreens containing chemicals considered damaging to coral reefs.
Legislation was passed back in May and Hawaii would become the first state in the country to enact such a law to protect the oceans.
The bill says chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate ‘have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii’s marine environment and residing ecosystems.’
Sunscreens containing these would only be available for those with a prescription from a licensed health-care provider.
"Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens. When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow," bill sponsor State Sen. Mike Gabbard told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
"The legislature further finds that environmental contamination of oxybenzone and octinoxate persists in Hawaii’s coastal waters, as the contamination is constantly refreshed and renewed every day by swimmers and beachgoers," the bill states.
The two chemicals cause genetic damage to reefs and increase coral bleaching.
If signed, the law would come into effect in 2021 but it has faced plenty of opposition.
This includes sunscreen manufacturers, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the state Medical Association.
They are effectively saying that maintaining the condition of coral reefs will come at the expense of public health, with potentially higher levels of skin cancer.
‘The health, safety and welfare of millions of Hawaii residents and tourists have been severely compromised’ by the bill which would ban about 70% of all sunscreens, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
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