Thailand Bans Sunscreen

Following Hawaii’s lead, Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has imposed sunscreen restrictions for the country’s marine national parks. The ban comes in response to coral reef damage caused by certain chemical compounds commonly found in sunscreens.

The new law, published on the Royal Thai Government Gazette website, comes with a hefty penalty. Those violating the ban can be fined up to 100,000 Thai baht (about $3100).

Banned sunscreens are those containing:

• Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3)
• Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate)
• 4-Methylbenzylid Camphor (4MBC)
• Butylparaben

These substances are believed to be endocrine disruptors that affect the development of corals.

To avoid being fined, choose sunscreens that are labelled as “Reef-Safe”. These sunscreens use minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, instead of chemicals, to protect against UV rays.

Check out our selection of mineral sunscreens.