HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1093.002 2014-2016 P/Ca L
Murashige, Laura
From: McLuckie, Robbie <rmcluckie@chpa.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2016 12:01 PM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Gutierrez, Carlos; Moore, Sean; LSZ CONSULTING LLC (laurenzirbel@gmail.com)
Subject: Opposition to Resolution No. 672-16
Attachments: Hawaii County Onxybenzone Resolution Oppose 11.1.2016.pdf
To whom it may concern:
On behalf of Carlos Gutierrez, Director and Head of State Government Affairs at the Consumer Healthcare Products
Association, please find the attached letter opposing Resolution No. 672-16.Thank you and please let us know if you
have any questions.
Regards,
Robbie McLuckie
State Legislative Analyst w ;::
Consumer Healthcare Products Association 5).
1625 Eye Street, NW,Suite 600 ;
Washington, DC 20006 44
T:202.429.3524 F 866.267.6191 ,. •�
rmcluckiePchpa.org '' :7
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Ref. To: d 24
Ref. Date 65 6
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fr CHPACONSUER HEALTHCARE
M PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
founded 1881
November 1, 2016
The Honorable Dru Mamo Kanuha
Chair and Presiding Officer
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402/2402
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Opposition to Resolution No. 672-16 urging the 2017 Hawaii State Legislature to ...ban
the sale of sunscreen products that contain oxybenzone
Dear Councilman Kanuha,
On behalf of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), a 135 year-old trade
association representing the manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary
supplements, I'm writing in opposition to Resolution No. 672-16. The resolution urges the 2017
Hawaii State Legislature to promote ocean health by banning the sale of sunscreens and other
personal care products that contain oxybenzone.While our industry shares the County Council's
concern about damage to the environment and coral reefs,there is no evidence that removing
products containing oxybenzone from the market will improve the health of coral reefs.
Resolution No. 672-16 cites a study published in Archives of Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology suggesting oxybenzone could be harmful to coral, but the study failed to accurately
reflect the complexity of the natural marine environment in which coral exists.There is no
scientific evidence that under naturally-occurring conditions, sunscreen ingredients,which have
been safely used around the world for decades, are contributing to this issue.According to the
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation
Program, coral reefs are threatened by an increasing array of impacts - primarily from global
climate change, unsustainable fishing and other factors.
Sunscreen is a first line of defense for individuals seeking protection from the sun's cancer-
causing UV rays.The resolution, and the policy it encourages,will effectively reduce the selection
of sunscreen products available to consumers. Manufacturers would also be required to
reformulate their products, resulting in lower UVA protection and lower SPF sunscreens..The
combination of reduced choice and less effective products could have the dangerous
consequence of fewer people using sunscreen,thereby causing more skin damage and
potentially increasing skin cancer rates. This is particularly troubling considering:
• There were nearly 10,000 deaths due to melanoma in 2015
• The cost of skin cancer treatment exceeds $8 billion annually
• Nearly 5 million Americans are treated for skin cancer each year
• 90% of melanoma cases are linked to UV exposure and are considered preventable
• Nearly 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime
1625 Eye Street,NW,Suite 600 ( Washington,DC 20006 T 202.429.9260 F 202.223.6835 I chpa.org I @r.hpa
CHPA considers consumer access to a variety of safe and effective sunscreens as paramount to
sun safety. Oxybenzone has been an FDA-approved sunscreen ingredient since 1978 and is
proven effective against both UVA and UVB radiation. The American Academy of Dermatology
also recommends the use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone. While the County Council
should be commended for exploring ways to combat coral reef degradation,this should not be
done at the expense of consumers' access to effective sunscreen products.
For these reasons,we oppose Resolution No. 672-16. If you have any questions, please contact
me or our representative in Hawaii, Lauren Zirbel at 808-294-9968 or laurenzirbel@gmail.com .
Thank you for your consideration.
Best Regards,
ck9 v,
Carlos I. Gutierrez
Senior Director and Head of State Government Affairs
Consumer Healthcare Products Association
202-429-3521
cgutierrez@chpa.org
cc: Members of the Hawaii County Council
Ms. Lauren Zirbel, LSZ Consulting