Bill would restrict certain sunscreens in effort to protect Florida’s coral reefs

Certain sunscreen products in the Sunshine State would require prescriptions, under a measure proposed Tuesday in the Florida Senate.

Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, filed a bill (SB 708) that would require prescriptions to buy sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate.

The bill, which doesn’t have a House version, says the chemicals “cause mortality in developing coral” and “degrade corals’ resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors.”

The Florida Society for Dermatology has opposed a similar proposal that has been moving forward in Key West.

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This article appears in Feb 6-12, 2019.