USP Article: Supporting the Detection of Asbestos in Pharmaceutical Talc

The USP has published an article on the implementation of current requirements for asbestos testing in pharmaceutical talc. The article provides an overview for manufacturers, suppliers and contract testing laboratories. It also includes numerous links to further information on the relevant topics.

The article covers:

• the revised USP Talc monograph, which became official on 1 June 2026;
• USP Chapters <901> Detection of Asbestos in Pharmaceutical Talc and <1901> Theory and Practice of Asbestos Detection in Pharmaceutical Talc;
• the implementation of the new requirements by manufacturers, suppliers and contract laboratories.

The article is available on the USP website.

Webinar: "Talc in Pharma"

In response to these developments, ECA has developed a Webinar on Monday, 21 September 2026 from 14:00–16:00 CEST.

During the Webinar, Dr Lance Smallshaw (UCB Biopharma SRL, Belgium), who is also a Board Member of the ECA Analytical Quality Control Group, will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to talc in pharmaceuticals
• ECHA classification and scientific basis
• USP monograph and analytical requirements
• FDA enforcement and compliance implications

A Q&A session will follow the presentation, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions.