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Cosmetic Talc Litigation Media Coverage November 29, 2016
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Johnson & Johnson faces potential European talc-cancer case
Nov 29, 2016 | Chemical Watch
By Clelia Oziel
A group of Irish women is considering suing Johnson & Johnson over an alleged link between its talc-containing products and their ovarian cancer.
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Johnson & Johnson faces potential European talc-cancer case
Nov 29, 2016 | Chemical Watch
By Clelia Oziel
Result of appeals against US court verdicts needed first
A group of Irish women is considering suing Johnson & Johnson over an alleged link between its talc-containing products and their ovarian cancer.
Their lawyer said a decision on taking legal action against the multinational will be made when the results of appeals against the decisions in three legal cases in the US are known – possibly within 18 months.
"We [will] let the Americans do the heavy lifting [first]," lawyer Bryan Fox told Chemical Watch. He said he represents "close to 20" Irish women and is looking for others diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the country as he aims to establish more links.
Consumer products multinational Johnson & Johnson has lost three trials in the US in the past year. It has been ordered to pay $195m over claims it ignored studies connecting its talc-containing products to ovarian cancer and failed to warn customers about the risk.
The company is appealing all three verdicts. It says it is "guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson's baby powder".
Two further cases in New Jersey were dismissed in September by a state court judge – a decision which, the company says: "highlights the lack of credible scientific evidence behind plaintiffs' allegations".
While the appeals process continues, the company faces thousands of complaints yet to be heard in several states.Inconclusive evidence
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral which, in its natural form, may contain asbestos, a known carcinogen. But studies show cosmetic grade talcum does not contain asbestos.
A potential link between talc and ovarian cancer was first reported in 1982. However, many scientists say the evidence of major risk of cancer from use of talc, especially cosmetic grade, is inconclusive.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (Iarc) has classified genital talc as a possible carcinogen. Echa's website says the majority of companies providing CLP notifications for talc did not classify any hazards.
In Echa's classification and labelling (C&L) inventory, 34 out of 2,564 notifiers said talc is a category 1A carcinogen. Data in the C&L inventory may be unreliable: the agency and industry have been asked to clean up erroneous and inconsistent information it contains.
https://chemicalwatch.com/51261/johnson-johnson-faces-potential-european-talc-cancer-case
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
EMEA Coverage
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