FDA approves bemotrizinol as safer sunscreen filter for personal care formulations

USA – The FDA has approved bemotrizinol, also known as BEMT, as the first new US sunscreen active ingredient in over two decades, marking a major breakthrough in UV protection for American consumers. 

On June 9, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially added bemotrizinol to its list of acceptable sunscreen filters, ending a 20-year gap since the last new chemical filter was approved in the late 1990s. 

This ingredient has been widely used and approved for years in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, where it gained popularity for its superior safety profile compared to many chemical ingredients currently in use in the United States.

Bemotrizinol is the first chemical filter approved in the U.S. to provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays contribute to skin ageing and wrinkles, while UVB rays cause sunburns, and this dual protection addresses long-standing gaps in American sunscreen formulations. 

The ingredient is particularly advantageous because it remains stable when exposed to sunlight, unlike many current chemical filters that break down under sunlight.

Experts assert that bemotrizinol will occupy a crucial role in the U.S. market by providing protection against both ultraviolet A and B rays without leaving the white streaks typically associated with mineral-based sunscreens.

The FDA’s safety review was extensive, including a multiyear animal study and reproductive testing, which concluded that the ingredient is completely non-irritating. 

The agency officially considers bemotrizinol to be generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) for use in sunscreens by adults and children 6 months of age and older. 

This safety determination means the ingredient meets the FDA’s criteria for safeguarding against harmful ultraviolet rays while causing minimal skin irritation or absorption. 

According to dermatologists, this approval is a major breakthrough that could close long-standing gaps in UVA defence in American sunscreens.

Initially, bemotrizinol will be marketed in the U.S. by DSM Nutritional Products (a Dutch company) under the name Parsol Shield, with some sources also referring to it as Pars Shield. 

The product is anticipated to debut on American store shelves by the end of this year. 

The manufacturer has been granted an 18-month exclusivity period for this proprietary formulation, meaning only their products will contain bemotrizinol during this time. Following this exclusivity period, the ingredient will become accessible to additional manufacturers, allowing broader market availability. 

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