THE FACT THAT? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required cosmetic companies to test talc-containing products for asbestos, saying it will amend the regulation based on requirements set by a 2022 federal law.
THE DETAILS The agency announced the withdrawal in a Federal Register notice, stating that there was “good cause” to revise the proposal due to the scientific, technical and legal complexities raised in public comments. The FDA said the Biden-era rule, which aimed to establish standardized asbestos detection methods for talc-based cosmetics, could have unintended impacts on other product categories, including over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics.
The notice also cited the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) priorities and the need to reevaluate broader approaches to reducing asbestos exposure. Although the proposal is withdrawn, the FDA remains required under the Cosmetics Modernization Regulatory Act of 2022 to issue a rule requiring asbestos testing for cosmetic products containing talc. A new proposal will be presented later.
Talc and asbestos are often found geologically close to each other, increasing contamination risks; Exposure to asbestos is known to cause cancer. Advocacy groups criticized the recall and warned that it delays necessary consumer protection.
THE WHY? The withdrawal allows the FDA to redesign the asbestos testing mandate in response to legal and technical concerns, although it delays the implementation of standardized testing requirements for talc-based cosmetics.
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