The FDA Hit Pause on Talc Testing for Asbestos—And it’s Raising Eyebrows
NewBeauty Facebook Pinterest Instagram Youtube find a doctor Face Adult Acne Antioxidants Anti-Aging Celebrity Chronic Skin Conditions Eye Hydration Hyperpigmentation Makeup View All Eyebrows Eye Color Foundation Fragrance Lip Color Makeovers Male Skin Care Peels Pre-Event Prep Sensitive Skin Skin Care Skin Health Smile Sun Care Treatments Fillers Microneedling Post-Procedure Skin Care Neurotoxins Regenerative Aesthetics Skin Lifting Body Body Sculpting Breasts Butts Cellulite Hair Removal Hands + Nails Legs Pregnancy Find a Doctor Hair Bond Repair Celebrity Dry Hair Frizzy Hair Gray Hair Hair Color Hair Growth Hair Repair Scalp Health Styling + Tips Awards NB100 Awards 15th Annual Beauty Awards 2025 NewBeauty Readers’ Choice Awards Shopping Gift Guides Product Reviews NewBeauty Storefront Wellness Fitness GLP-1s Health Menopause About Us TESTTUBE Search for: Search HomeWellnessHealth The FDA Hit Pause on Talc Testing for Asbestos—and It’s Raising Eyebrows The withdrawn rule has reopened the conversation around talc safety. Marisa Petrarca Published: Dec 5, 2025 Photo by Joanna Żołnierkiewcz on Unsplash Concerns about asbestos showing up in talc-based beauty products have lingered for years—and with good reason, as multiple reports and recalls have made headlines time and time again. To address those very real risks, the FDA proposed a rule late last year that would have required cosmetic brands to test any talc-containing products for asbestos, a known carcinogen that can sometimes appear in talc because of how the minerals are mined. But in a recent update, the FDA announced that it has withdrawn the proposed rule. The proposed change would have meant regular testing and detailed documentation to prove talc-containing products were asbestos-free. If a brand didn’t meet those requirements, its products could be labeled “adulterated” under federal law—essentially, not recommended for use. As NewBeauty previously reported, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found sufficient evidence linking asbestos…