FDA Adds Talc Testing Standards for Asbestos Contamination in Cosmetic Products
New federal rules say that all cosmetic-grade talc must be tested for asbestos in the same way
Sunday, August 3, 2025 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formally announced new rules that say all companies that make talc-based cosmetics must use the same testing methods to look for asbestos contamination. This regulatory action is a response to years of worry from public health experts, consumers, and lawsuits that came about after asbestos was found in baby powder, body powders, and facial cosmetics. The new rule focuses on using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which is more sensitive and trustworthy than prior approaches, to find even very small amounts of asbestos fibers. Talcum powder cancer lawyers who have helped thousands of people sue cosmetic companies for cancer caused by talcum powder say that the FDA's new rule will make it easier for them to demonstrate that companies should be held responsible for the safety of their products. Over the past ten years, there have been many talcum powder cancer lawsuits. This federal action shows that the government is going to start keeping a closer eye on a business that has been able to police itself for a long time.
Manufacturers thought talc was safe for decades, and they didn't have to send test findings to the FDA before putting goods on the market. This made it possible for a lot of different testing procedures to be used, and many of them weren't sensitive enough to find low yet hazardous levels of asbestos. The FDA's new rules say that all cosmetics that include talc must be tested using the same methods, and the results must be provided on request. The government said in its announcement that asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally and is typically found near talc resources. If not adequately screened, it can readily get into the product during mining and processing. This possibility of contamination makes standardized testing not just smart but necessary. The FDA said that previous studies have detected asbestos fibers in cosmetics that were sold to both adults and children, often without the buyers' knowledge. These items were available in big retailers and online, which makes the necessity for federal action even clearer. Talcum powder cancer lawyers think that this new policy makes product liability cases stronger, especially those involving people who got mesothelioma or ovarian cancer after using the product for a long time.
The FDA's official statement says that the new guidelines came about because toxicologists, university researchers, and industry stakeholders all worked together to come up with them. The government said that older technologies like polarized light microscopy, which can't see fibers smaller than a particular size, will need to be replaced by newer ones like TEM. The new rules apply to both imported and made-in-the-USA cosmetics. They are part of a larger effort by the FDA to update how it regulates personal care items under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA). Consumer advocacy groups were happy with the news, but they told the FDA to do more. They wanted all testing data to be made public and for talc-based cosmetics to have warning labels on them until the risk is completely gone.
OnderLaw, LLC -