Johnson & Johnson had previously stopped selling the talcum powder in the US and Canada, after its products were found contaminated with asbestos, a carcinogen.

FDA vice secretary-general Supattra Boonserm said that the agency had collected 18 samples of talcum powder in Thailand in 2020, including four samples of Johnson & Johnson products. The lab test found no asbestos contamination in the products, she said.

She added that the FDA had strictly monitored the production and import of the powders.

Talcum powder is normally made of talc, a clay mineral, in powdered form and is often combined with corn starch. According to safety standards, it should have no asbestos or other harmful substances.