End of last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an unpublished notice titled “Testing Methods for Detecting and Identifying Asbestos in Talc-Containing Cosmetic Products; Withdrawal,” formally withdrawing its previously proposed rule on this topic.

The withdrawal took effect upon the issuance of the notice.

Under the now-withdrawn proposal, FDA had considered establishing specific testing methods for the detection and identification of asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products. By withdrawing the proposal, the agency has terminated further action on that rulemaking initiative, and the proposed testing requirements will not be implemented.

As a result, no new mandatory federal testing methods for asbestos in talc-containing cosmetics will be introduced at this time. However, the withdrawal does not affect existing regulatory expectations regarding product safety, nor does it limit FDA’s authority to address asbestos contamination in cosmetics through other regulatory or enforcement mechanisms.