U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) on June 17 called a recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add bemotrizinol to a list of permitted sunscreen active ingredients a significant step forward in expanding access to innovative sunscreen products for American consumers.
The FDA on June 10 issued an order adding bemotrizinol as the first new active ingredient to the over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s. Bemotrizinol provides protection against both ultraviolet A and B rays and has low levels of absorption through the skin into the body, the FDA said.
“For too long, the FDA’s approval process prevented new sunscreen ingredients that are widely used around the world from becoming available in the United States,” Rep. Latta said. “The reforms included in the OMUFA Act helped modernize the review process, and this decision demonstrates the importance of continuing to advance innovation while ensuring consumers have access to safe and effective products.”
In July 2025, the congressman Latta proposed the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments (OMUFA) to reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph User Fee Program, which helps provide Americans with access to safe and effective over-the-counter medicines. The legislation was signed into law in November 2025 as part of a continuing resolution, according to his staff.
As a member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Latta has consistently advocated for improving the FDA’s review process for sunscreen ingredients, his staff said, noting a committee hearing in which the congressman highlighted the need to modernize the agency’s sunscreen approval framework and ensure Americans have access to the latest sunscreen innovations.