European Union Advances Ban On Cosmetic Talc Amid Cancer Risk Concerns
The EU is thinking of drafting a law that would make it illegal for all member states to use talc in personal care products
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - The European Union is getting closer to putting a continent-wide ban on the use of talc in personal care and cosmetic products. This is because people are worried about the long-term safety of consumers and the danger of cancer. Regulators in some member states are supporting a proposed law that would gradually remove talc from baby powder, face powders, and body care products supplied in the EU. This decision comes after years of scientific debate and lawsuits in other countries, especially the United States, where tens of thousands of baby powder cancer lawsuits have been filed linking talcum powder to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. The suggested EU ban is part of a bigger plan by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to make safety rules stricter for chemicals that could cause cancer, mutations, or harm reproduction (CMRs). People are worried about talc because it can have small amounts of asbestos in it, which is a proven cancer-causing substance. Even though cosmetic-grade talc is intended to be free of asbestos, it is hard to be sure that it is pure all the time because tests don't always agree and safety regulations aren't the same around the world. Because of this, talcum powder attorneys are taking a cautious approach to protect public health.
People in the industry are pushing back, saying that talc has been safely used in cosmetics for decades and that the raw ingredients used in Europe are put through strict testing. Consumer safety groups and independent scientists, on the other hand, refer to a growing body of data that raises real concerns about using talc in sensitive locations for a long time, especially in the perineal area. Some studies have shown that using talc regularly may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, but the cause of this is still up for debate. The EU's proposed law would have corporations take talc out of their products or change the formulas to use safer ingredients like cornstarch or rice powder. If manufacturers don't follow the rules, they won't be able to sell their products in the EU's internal market. Some big firms that do business in more than one country have already started to stop using talc because they know that rules will get harsher. They have also started to sell talc-free products in European stores.
Consumer groups across Europe have welcomed the impending ban, noting that the EU has often led the way in establishing aggressive public health legislation. Lawsuits in the U.S. over talc have revealed internal company documents that show some firms knew about the risks but nevertheless sold talc-based goods without giving enough warnings. So far, this kind of proof has not led to legal claims in Europe, but the new information has made it more important for EU regulators to take action. If implemented, the EU ban would set a powerful precedent and potentially influence regulatory methods in other countries. It might also lead to new ideas in the cosmetics business as companies look for safer and more environmentally friendly chemicals.
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