Overview
- The FDA on November 28 withdrew its December 2024 proposal that would have required batch-level asbestos testing of talc cosmetics using PLM and TEM under MoCRA.
- There remains no federal mandate for asbestos testing in talc-based cosmetics, leaving companies to decide whether and how to test.
- Public comments flagged scientific, technical, and legal concerns, including the lack of standardized detection methods, risks of false positives, and costs for smaller manufacturers.
- HHS says regulators will craft a new proposal with a more comprehensive approach to reducing asbestos exposure and identifying safer alternatives, with no timeline provided.
- Industry practices remain uneven as many brands test or reformulate away from talc, while advocates urge consumers—especially for loose powders—to avoid talc products until enforceable standards exist, and the EU has adopted precautionary measures pending standardized methods.