Talc is a naturally occurring mineral, mined from the earth, composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Chemically, talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate with a chemical formula of Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.
Talc has many uses in cosmetic products and other personal care products.
Both talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals that may be found in close proximity in the earth. Asbestos is also a naturally occurring silicate mineral, but with a different crystal structure. Unlike talc, asbestos is a known carcinogen when inhaled. There is the potential for contamination of talc with asbestos and therefore, it is important to select talc mining sites carefully and take steps to test the ore sufficiently.
– On July 9, 2025, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a final opinion recommending the classification of Talc as a Category 1B carcinogen (“presumed to be carcinogenic to humans”) under the EU Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. Additionally, talc is proposed to be classified as a Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated Exposure (STOT RE) Category 1 substance, primarily affecting the lungs.
A total ban on talc in cosmetic products is expected to be enforced in the EU by 2027.
Prior to the new classification, talc was already under restrictions (Annex III/59 of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009), requiring warnings on products for children under 3 and ensuring it is asbestos-free.
– On December 26, 2024, the FDA announced a proposed rule to establish and require established testing methods to detect and identify asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products.
On November 28, 2025, the FDA announced the withdrawal of the proposed rule titled “Testing Methods for Detecting and Identifying Asbestos in Talc-Containing Cosmetic Products.
– In January 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its technical report on proposed mandatory classifications for talc under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation.
The HSE technical report does not propose a CMR classification for talc in GB. The HSE technical report states that “The Agency does not consider the available data are sufficient to support classification for carcinogenicity.”.
Based on the conclusion from this technical report, the use of talc in cosmetic products in GB is not expected to change from current requirements.
sources link:
