Key West Considers Sunscreen Ordinance

The Key West City Commission, Key West, FL, has postponed a vote on an ordinance that would ban the sale and use of sunscreen products that are formulated with oxybenzone and octinoxate—a move that would follow in the footsteps of Hawaii's ban that was approved earlier this year. The Commission met on Dec. 4 and elected to push the vote to its Jan. 15, 2019 meeting.
 
Craig Downs of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Clifford, VA, was in attendance at the Dec.4, 2018 meeting to give a presentation on his research on the topic. Downs’ research was used by the State of Hawaii in its ground-breaking legislation.
 
The Personal Care Products Council sent in a letter of opposition penned by Lezlee Westine president and CEO, expressing opposition to ordinance.
 
According to a report on KeysWeekly.com, Emily Manoso, staff counsel at the Personal Care Products Council was present at the meeting, as well as Dr. Kurt Reynertson of Johnson and Johnson’s Regulatory and Stewardship Policy Department.