Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Guam committee hears testimony on bill to bar sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene
Summary
The Committee on Land, Environment, Housing, Agriculture, Parks and Infrastructure held a public hearing Feb. 10 on Bill No. 35‑38 (COR), which would prohibit importing sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene. Agency witnesses urged reef-protective action but noted enforcement and economic questions; no vote was taken.
Vice Speaker Tony Ada, chair of the Committee on Land, Environment, Housing, Agriculture, Parks and Infrastructure, opened a Feb. 10 public hearing on Bill No. 35‑38 (COR), a measure that would add a new article to Title 10, Guam Code Annotated, to prohibit the importation of skin‑care products containing certain chemical UV filters that studies have linked to coral damage.
The bill drew support from resource agencies and questions from legislators about enforcement, retailer inventory and alternatives. No formal vote was taken; the committee invited additional written testimony for seven days and left next steps to future action.
The measure aims to ban products containing oxybenzone, octinoxate (also spelled in testimony as actinosate/actinoxate) and octocrylene from Guam’s market. Michelle Lastimosa, administrator of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, told the committee, “The Guam Environmental Protection Agency is supportive of any measure where reasonable action is taken to protect our coral reefs in Guam,” but reminded members that “the authority and enforcement of sunscreen lies with the Department of Public…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
