A Michigan Bill Would Ban Oxybenzone, a Chemical Used in Sunscreen, From Cosmetic Products by 1 January 2027
A bill in Michigan, in the United States, would ban oxybenzone and other benzophenones in cosmetic products from 1 January 2027. Oxybenzone is a chemical UV filter used in sunscreen. The bill has sat in a House committee since 23 April 2026. Australian sunscreens can still contain up to 10% oxybenzone. The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling on the TGA to ban oxybenzone in sunscreen, citing the TGA's own finding that oxybenzone "is not deemed to present a low risk to human health and safety" at the 10% maximum.
A bill in the US state of Michigan would ban oxybenzone and other benzophenones in cosmetic products. House Bill 5892, the "safe cosmetics act", was introduced on 23 April 2026 by Representative Sharon MacDonell (Michigan Legislature, 2026a, Sec. 1; Michigan Legislature, 2026b).
The bill reads: "Beginning on January 1, 2027, a manufacturer shall not knowingly manufacturer [sic], sell, offer for sale or use, or distribute for sale or use in this state a cosmetic product that contains any of the following intentionally added chemicals or classes of chemicals above the practical quantification limit" (Michigan Legislature, 2026a, Sec. 11(1)). Item (b) on that list is "Benzophenones".
Oxybenzone is a chemical UV filter used in sunscreen. It is also called benzophenone-3. The bill's definition of "Benzophenone" names both: "(d) Benzophenone-3. (e) Oxybenzone." (Michigan Legislature, 2026a, Sec. 4(2)).
Benzophenones are one of 15 chemicals or classes of chemicals on the bill's list. The others include "Parabens", "Triclosan" and "Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents" (Michigan Legislature, 2026a, Sec. 11(1)).
The bill does not mention sunscreen. It says its ban "applies to a cosmetic product even if the product contains a drug ingredient that is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration" (Michigan Legislature, 2026a, Sec. 11(3)).
A manufacturer that breaks the rule would face a civil fine of up to "$5,000.00" for a first violation and "$10,000.00" for a second or later one (Michigan Legislature, 2026a, Sec. 15(1)).
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations on 23 April 2026 and has had no action since (Michigan Legislature, 2026b).
What regulators have found
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found oxybenzone gets into the body. Oxybenzone "is absorbed through the skin to a greater extent than previously understood and can lead to significant systemic exposure", the FDA wrote (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2019, p. 6206). The FDA cited data showing oxybenzone was detected in human breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine and blood plasma (FDA, 2019, p. 6206). In 2019 the US FDA found the long-used chemical filters, including oxybenzone, homosalate, avobenzone and octocrylene, lacked enough safety data to be classed safe and effective (FDA, 2019, p. 6206).
Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has its own findings. A 2021 draft review for the TGA said "several studies published in 2020 support previous findings that oxybenzone can act as an endocrine disruptor and may increase the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis" (Therapeutic Goods Administration [TGA], 2021, p. 17). An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that can interfere with hormones.
The same review looked at animal studies. "Oxybenzone was carcinogenic in mice (bone marrow, spleen, kidney and liver), with equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity observed in rats (brain, spinal cord, thyroid and uterus)," it said (TGA, 2021, p. 37).
Thailand has banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone from its national parks since 4 August 2021, to protect coral (Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation [DNP], 2021, p. 1).
What scientists have written
Two Australian Sunscreen Council members, the scientists Joseph C. DiNardo, MS, and Craig A. Downs, PhD, have written about harms linked to oxybenzone. In 2018 they wrote: "In humans, oxybenzone has been reported to produce contact and photocontact allergy reactions, [implicated] as a possible endocrine disruptor and has been linked to Hirschsprung's disease" (DiNardo & Downs, 2018, p. 15). Hirschsprung's disease is a bowel condition that babies are born with, and it can lead to a blocked bowel (Huo et al., 2016).
The disease starts in the womb, when certain cells, called neural crest cells, fail to migrate to the lower bowel (Huo et al., 2016). In a 2021 paper, "Fall from GRASE", DiNardo and Downs wrote: "DiNardo and Downs (2019) further demonstrated that under normal use conditions enough oxybenzone is available to the fetus during critical embryonic development to inhibit the migration of these neural crest cells" (DiNardo & Downs, 2021, p. 3).
The 2021 paper also raised a concern about young children. DiNardo and Downs (2021, p. 3) quoted a 2006 Swedish Research Council release: "Children under the age of two years have not fully developed the enzymes that are believed to break down oxybenzone. This suggests, in theory, that small children will not be able to get rid of the substance as easily as adults."
The two scientists also questioned the case for oxybenzone at all. In 2018 they wrote of "...the availability of more effective sunscreen actives such as micronized zinc oxide ... serious doubts about the relative prevention benefit of personal care products containing oxybenzone must be raised..." (DiNardo & Downs, 2018, p. 15).
Oxybenzone in Australian sunscreen
Australian sunscreens can still contain up to 10% oxybenzone (TGA, 2025a, p. 61). As of 26 June 2025, 39 medicines on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, including sunscreens, contained oxybenzone as an active ingredient, the TGA counted (TGA, 2025b, p. 13).
The TGA has proposed a new CAUTION (Schedule 5) entry for oxybenzone (TGA, 2025b, p. 11). That would mean products with oxybenzone, unless exempt, would need the word "Caution" on the main label and could not be listed medicines. In the TGA's words, such products "require a Caution signal word on the main label and cannot be in Listed medicines" (TGA, 2025b, p. 11). Submissions closed on 12 August 2025, and no decision has been made. The TGA says "The interim decision on these ingredients will be published and subject to public consultation by the end of 2026" (TGA, n.d.).
The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling on the TGA to ban oxybenzone in sunscreen. One reason is the TGA's own finding that oxybenzone "is not deemed to present a low risk to human health and safety when used at the highest maximum permitted concentration of 10% in therapeutic sunscreens" (TGA, 2025a, p. 61).
Non-nano zinc oxide is the only broad-spectrum UV filter that is reef safe and Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE) by the US FDA (NOAA, n.d.; NPS, n.d.; FDA, 2019, p. 6206; Beasley & Meyer, 2010; Hanrahan, 2012).
About the Australian Sunscreen Council
The Australian Sunscreen Council is a registered Australian charity dedicated to improving the health of everyday Australians through UV education, research and evidence-based sun safety initiatives.
As Australia’s peak industry body for sunscreen safety, the Council works with scientists, medical professionals, industry experts and policymakers to advance sunscreen safety, support independent research, improve public understanding of UV exposure and promote stronger public-health standards.
ABN 64 692 134 982
Australian Sunscreen Council Editorial Team
The Council is supported by an Expert Group and may draw on advice from one or more members depending on the subject matter of a particular article, submission or publication. Members listed by the Council include (Australian Sunscreen Council, n.d.):
Dr Craig Downs, Executive Director, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory
Dr Russell Hills, cosmetic and laser dermatologist and Mohs specialist
Dr Denis Dudley, obstetrician-gynaecologist and endocrinologist
Dr Abhinandan “Rocky” Chowdhury, toxicologist
Dr Leslie Laquieze, sunscreen testing and photoprotection
Mgr. Mehrdad Mirzaei, pharmacist and photoprotection researcher
Joseph DiNardo, cosmetic toxicologist
Dr Alan Jones, skin cancer physician
Camila Biato Stopa, MSc, cosmetic scientist and pharmacist
Acknowledgment
Grok was used in the creation of this article. Always read the sunscreen label and use only as directed. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats, and eyewear.
References
Australian Sunscreen Council. (n.d.). Scientific experts in sunscreen safety. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.australiansunscreencouncil.org/scientific-experts-sunscreen-safety
Beasley, D. G., & Meyer, T. A. (2010). Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 11(6), 413–421. https://doi.org/10.2165/11537050-000000000-00000
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. (2021, June 24). ประกาศกรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช เรื่อง ห้ามนำและใช้ครีมกันแดดที่มีส่วนประกอบของสารเคมีที่เป็นอันตรายต่อปะการังเข้าไปในอุทยานแห่งชาติ [Announcement prohibiting bringing in and using sunscreen containing chemicals harmful to coral in national parks]. Royal Thai Government Gazette, 138(Special 175 ง), 1. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tha211144.pdf
DiNardo, J. C., & Downs, C. A. (2018). Dermatological and environmental toxicological impact of the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone/benzophenone-3. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 17(1), 15–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12449
DiNardo, J. C., & Downs, C. A. (2021). Fall from GRASE: The sunsetting of the Sunscreen Innovation Act. American Journal of Dermatological Research and Reviews, 4, Article 39. https://doi.org/10.28933/ajodrr-2020-12-2805
Hanrahan, J. R. (2012). Sunscreens. Australian Prescriber, 35(5), 148–151. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2012.068
Huo, W., Cai, P., Chen, M., Li, H., Tang, J., Xu, C., Zhu, D., Tang, W., & Xia, Y. (2016). The relationship between prenatal exposure to BP-3 and Hirschsprung's disease. Chemosphere, 144, 1091–1097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.019
Michigan Legislature. (2026a). House Bill No. 5892 [As introduced, April 23, 2026]. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2025-2026/billintroduced/House/htm/2026-HIB-5892.htm
Michigan Legislature. (2026b). House Bill 5892 of 2026 [Bill status page]. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2026-HB-5892
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Skincare chemicals and marine life. National Ocean Service. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html
National Park Service. (n.d.). Sunscreen. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.nps.gov/subjects/oceans/sunscreen.htm
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (n.d.). Sunscreen ingredients. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/sunscreens/sunscreen-ingredients
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2021). Literature review of seven sunscreen active ingredients [Draft; released under FOI 25-0104]. https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/FOI%2025-0104.pdf
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025a). Safety review of seven active sunscreen ingredients [May 2025; released under FOI 26-2156, Document 4]. https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-06/FOI%2026-2156.PDF
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025b). Pre-meeting public notice: Joint ACMS-ACCS #41, homosalate, oxybenzone, benzophenone [Public notice, September 2025]. https://consultations.tga.gov.au/tga/scheduling-pre-meeting-sunscreen-substances-sep-25/user_uploads/pre-meeting-public-notice---joint-41---homosalate-oxybenzone-benzophenone---sep-2025-1.pdf
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019, February 26). Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use (Proposed rule, 84 Fed. Reg. 6204; Docket No. FDA-1978-N-0018). Federal Register. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-26/pdf/2019-03019.pdf
