china cosmetic grade titanium dioxide

In recent years, China's production of talc and titanium dioxide has increased significantly, making it one of the world's largest producers of these minerals. According to the US Geological Survey, China produced approximately 2.5 million metric tons of talc and 2.4 million metric tons of titanium dioxide in 2019 alone. This growth can be attributed to the country's vast reserves of these minerals, as well as government initiatives aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.

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  • On the other hand, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in their Final Administrative Order on Sunscreen Drug Products posted in September 2021 still accepts titanium dioxide up to 25% in the list of Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE) in the main document, without further clarification on what kind or size of particles [9]. However, on page 24 (Sunscreen containing nanomaterials) FDA clearly “distinguish nanomaterials from other forms of these ingredients'' (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) and ask for comments on “any particular nanomaterials that you believe should not be permitted for use in OTC sunscreen products”. To the best of our knowledge, this Agency did not ban the use of nanoparticulate titanium dioxide in any form, even though it is mentioned on page 34 that the anatase form is the more photoactive one, due to the lack of evidence with real sunscreens OTC (over the counter) in vivo. Moreover, other regulations in Latin America (MERCOSUR agreement, 2006) do not state clearly their position on the use of nanoparticulate TiO2NPs [10].