FDA now weighing approval of first new sunscreen ingredient in decades

The Food and Drug Administration is now weighing whether to approve the first new sunscreen ingredient for the U.S. market in decades, European skincare company DSM-Firmenich announced this week.

DSM-Firmenich says the FDA is expected to decide within the next 17.5 months  — by March 2026 — on the company's request to approve the sunscreen ingredient bemotrizinol, branded as PARSOL Shield. 

"PARSOL Shield has been safely used worldwide for over 20 years, and we are proud to lead the introduction of this proven technology to U.S. consumers," Parand Salmassinia, president of beauty and care at DSM-Firmenich, said in a release.