Talc, Soon Banned in Cosmetics Because of its Carcinogenic Nature?

On 9th January 2023, the Netherlands submitted to ECHA a proposal for a harmonized classification (CLH) for Talc. According to their studies, Talc would be classified as Carcinogenic Category 2 (Carc. 2, H351) and Toxic for certain target organs Category 1 (STOT RE 1, H372). If this harmonized classification is adopted at the European level, the use of Talc in cosmetic products will be banned (except the positive opinion of the SCCS).

This classification follows the decision of the American courts which condemned in 2018 a distributor of Talc to pay several billion dollars in damages to consumers complaining of ovarian cancer caused by this Talc.