FDA proposes adding sunscreen ingredient commonly used in other parts of the world to list of permitted products

Many sunscreen products in Australia and Europe, including the Nivea brand, contain bemotrizinol. Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty Images

A new proposal from the US Food and Drug administration would allow sunscreens in the United States to include an active ingredient already commonly used in Europe, Australia and parts of Asia.

Bemotrizinol is a chemical that provides broad spectrum protection against both ultraviolet A and B rays. It “has low levels of absorption through the skin into the body, and rarely causes skin irritation,” according to a news release from the FDA on Thursday.

The FDA regulates the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens. New products can be brought to market through an over-the-counter drug review process that sets conditions about how and when they are “gen