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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) issued the following statement after Johnson & Johnson announced the discontinuation of talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada:

“For decades, we have seen the dangers of asbestos and raised concerns that talc contained trace amounts of the known carcinogen. Removing these products from shelves will give parents peace of mind in knowing the products they use are safe. It’s critical that all companies follow the lead of Johnson & Johnson and remove unsafe products from the market. Still, cosmetics and personal care products are some of the least regulated consumer products on the market. More must be done to ensure products that could contain asbestos are kept off shelves. My legislation – the Children’s Product Warning Label Act – requires all cosmetics marketed to children to include proper warning labels alerting parents of dangerous toxins. No one should be exposed to asbestos through the use of common, everyday products.”

Dingell introduced the Children’s Product Warning Label Act which requires all cosmetics marketed to children to contain a warning label that the product has not been evaluated for asbestos contamination unless the manufacturer of the product attests in writing to the HHS Secretary that the source is an asbestos free-mine, and that they demonstrate to FDA that the product is asbestos-free using the transmission electron microscopy method.