The proposed rule is required under a law passed by Congress last year, and is intended to ensure the safety of makeup and baby powder.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing that cosmetic products containing talc should be tested using standardized methods to detect asbestos, a potential contaminant, according to documents posted on the federal register on Thursday.

The discount chain Big Lots, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores and distribution centers open.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule to require standardized testing of talc-containing cosmetics for asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to serious illnesses.

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a rule that cosmetic companies would have to take extra steps to ensure that any products containing talc are free of asbestos.

Before deciding on the rule, the FDA will invite public comments lasting ninety days. Under the plan, manufacturers must find asbestos via batch testing with polarized light and transmission electron microscopy. Ignoring rules could lead to products being judged tainted.

Months after a landmark Johnson & Johnson settlement, the FDA is now proposing that cosmetics makers test talc-based products for asbestos.