US FDA Would ‘Overstep’ Authority With Planned OTC Sunscreen Environmental Impact Statement

26 Jan 2022

• By Lauren Nardella

The Public Access to Sunscreens Coalition suggests the FDA should stay in its regulatory lane or at least await the results of a National Academies of Sciences study before moving forward with an environmental impact statement to the US Environmental Protection Agency regarding certain UV filters under GRASE review reported to harm marine coral.

WHITE OAK, MD - JULY 20: A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020 in White Oak, Maryland. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) — • Source: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

FDA should separate its assessment of sunscreen safety from UV filters’ potential environmental effects, and at minimum delay its intended Environmental Impact Statement to wait for more data, according to the Public Access to Sunscreens Coalition.

In recent comments submitted to the agency, PASS, which comprises public health groups, dermatologists, sunscreen manufacturers and skin cancer patient...