FDA Revokes Proposed Asbestos Testing Rule in Cosmetics

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has retracted its proposed rule that would have necessitated standardized testing methods for detecting asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products. The rule, initially published on December 27, 2024, was rescinded on November 28, 2024, after receiving extensive public comments that highlighted “scientific, technical, and legal complexities.”

The proposed regulation was a requirement under the 2022 Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act and would have obligated manufacturers to test talc-containing products using both Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) methods. The detection of asbestos at any level would have deemed products adulterated under federal law.

“We are withdrawing the proposed rule to reconsider the best means of addressing the issues covered by the proposed rule and broader principles to reduce exposure to asbestos,” the FDA stated.

The agency confirmed it will issue a revised proposed rule to satisfy the Act’s requirements. Talc, a common ingredient in cosmetics like pressed powders and eyeshadows, can naturally become contaminated with asbestos during mining processes.

Source: FDA Press Announcement