FDA Announces Pioneering Talc-Asbestos Testing Regulations for Cosmetics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently made a significant stride in consumer safety and cosmetic regulation. The agency has proposed a landmark rule that mandates manufacturers to test talc-containing cosmetic products for asbestos contamination.
This groundbreaking rule, announced on December 26, 2024, necessitates manufacturers to test their talc-based products using both Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) methods. These tests are crucial in detecting any traces of asbestos, a known carcinogen. The rule encompasses a broad spectrum of cosmetic products, including but not limited to eye shadows, foundations, mascaras, and face powders that contain talc.
“For many years the FDA has been sampling and testing talc-containing cosmetics for asbestos,” said Linda Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors. This proposal is a significant step in the agency’s implementation of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), marking a new era of stricter cosmetic oversight.
According to the rule, any level of asbestos detected would render the product adulterated under federal law, as there is no established safe level of asbestos exposure. The rule also enforces manufacturers to maintain detailed records and warns of severe regulatory consequences for non-compliance.