FDA sets new guidelines for over-the-counter sunscreen products

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new set of guidelines on safe and effective ingredients in over-the-counter sunscreen products.

The new guidelines require data makers to indicate the safety and efficacy of ingredients, reported Cosmeticsdesign.com.

Sunscreens are used to prevent sunburn and cut down the risks of skin cancer. This guideline is the latest effort to settle questions on the safety of new ingredients in such products. For the last ten years, the FDA has been reviewing this issue alongside some ingredients that have been used in Europe for several years now.

The FDA has detailed guidelines for the chemical and human studies manufacturers to undertake steps to secure approval for inclusion of a new ingredient in sunscreen products.

Last February, the FDA could not give approval to ingredients ecamsule and enzacamene due to insufficient data that proves safety of these ingredients, reported Foxnews.com.

In Janaury, six more ingredients were not given approval. The review process has been streamlined following passage of Sunscreen Innovation Act in 2014.