US health regulators withdraw plan to standardize asbestos testing in cosmetics

US health regulators have pulled back a proposed rule that would have set standard testing methods for asbestos in talc-based cosmetic products. This means cosmetic companies will not face new, mandatory rules for how they test their products for asbestos, at least for now.

For years, there has been no single, agreed-upon way to test for asbestos in cosmetics. This has led to inconsistent results and ongoing debate about product safety. The proposed rule aimed to fix this by creating a clear standard, which would have forced all companies to use the same methods and made it easier for regulators to enforce safety. Its withdrawal means the current patchwork of testing approaches will continue.