DHHB (Uvinul A Plus)
A photostable UVA filter used in Europe and Asia.
Banned in
- Palau
Also excluded where only mineral sunscreen is allowed
- Maui County
- Hawaiʻi County
Not approved in the US, so US sunscreens do not contain it.
Where it’s restricted
Named in the law or guidance
| Location | Status | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Palau law text ↗ | In force | January 1, 2020 |
Also not allowed under mineral-only rules
DHHB (Uvinul A Plus) isn’t named in these laws, but they allow only mineral (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sunscreens, so a product containing it is excluded anyway.
- Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) (in force since October 1, 2022)
- Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) (in force since December 1, 2022)
Why it’s regulated
In June 2025 the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety set a maximum of 260 ppm for DnHexP, a phthalate contaminant in DHHB. DnHexP is already banned in cosmetics, and the committee set 1 ppm as the target for it in DHHB. DHHB remains authorised under entry 28 of Annex VI, and the committee's limit assumes use up to 10%.
What the reef research says
No peer-reviewed study of DHHB's effects on coral or other reef species was found in this research. The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's 2025 opinion on DHHB is about human health and sets a limit for a phthalate contaminant.
Last reviewed October 14, 2026.