The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule aimed at establishing standardized testing methods for detecting asbestos in talc-based cosmetics. This move, required by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), is designed to strengthen product safety standards and reduce consumer exposure to the carcinogenic substance.
The proposed rule, titled Testing Methods for Detecting and Identifying Asbestos in Talc-Containing Cosmetic Products, mandates that manufacturers use two specific techniques—Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy/Selected Area Electron Diffraction (TEM/EDS/SAED). These testing methods, which have been endorsed by the Interagency Working Group on Asbestos in Consumer Products (IWGACP), were first recommended in scientific peer-reviewed reports published in 2022.
Talc has long been a common ingredient in cosmetics, but its potential to contain harmful asbestos fibers presents serious health risks, including cancer. The proposed regulations aim to minimize these risks by enforcing uniform safety testing protocols, ultimately protecting consumers and reducing asbestos-related diseases. For manufacturers, compliance with the new rule would not only ensure product safety but also help prevent costly recalls and restore consumer confidence in talc-based cosmetics.
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