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Sunscreens in the US could be allowed to contain an ingredient already widely used in Europe, Australia and Asia, under a proposal from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Experts say the chemical, Bemotrizinol, which acts as a broad-spectrum sunscreen, can offer better protection against Ultraviolet (UV) A and B rays emitted from the Sun than products currently approved in the US.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary criticised the US on Thursday for having “moved too slowly” to approve new sunscreen technology, in comparison to other countries.

The new FDA proposal would allow for companies to use bemotrizinol in concentrations of up to 6% in their products.

“The agency has historically moved too slowly in this area, leaving Americans with fewer options than consumers abroad,” Dr Makary said in a statement released by the FDA.

“Americans deserve timely access to the best safe, effective, and consumer-friendly over-the-counter products available,” he added.

Karen Murry, the acting director of the US Office of Nonprescription Drugs, called the inclusion of Bemotrizinol “a welcome addition” for US consumers.

“We look forward to working with other companies on bringing products containing other new active ingredients to market for a wide array of conditions in multiple therapeutic areas, in a much more timely fashion than was possible in the past,” she added.

Mineral sunscreens work by forming a thin protective film that absorbs UV radiation before it penetrates the skin, whereas chemical sunscreens absorb UV light and release it as heat.

Sunscreen is important to use to prevent skin cancer and premature aging. According to health officials in the UK, most people do not use enough sunscreen. It is also important to wear sunglasses, as UV light can damage eyes, as well as clothing that covers skin from the sun, and a hat which shades the body.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America, and statistics suggest 6.1 million adults are treated each year for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.