The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a federal rule on Dec. 26 aimed at protecting people who use talc-containing cosmetic products from potential asbestos exposure.
If finalized, the rule would require cosmetic products containing talc to be tested using standardized methods to detect if asbestos, a known carcinogen, is present.
Under the agency’s proposed rule, manufacturers of talc-containing cosmetic products would be required to test for asbestos using methods such as Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), to detect and identify whether or not asbestos is present in the products.
Alternatively, manufacturers may rely on a certificate of analysis from the talc supplier, according to the FDA….