The Food and Drug Administration is poised to kill a proposed rule that would require testing for toxic asbestos in talc-based cosmetics, a problem that has been linked to cancer.

Talc is widely used, including in cosmetics, food, medication and personal care products. The order was signed by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, leader of the “Make America healthy again” (Maha) movement.

A stated cornerstone of the movement, which helped propel Donald Trump to office, is to help eliminate toxins like asbestos from food, medicine and personal care products. The move has shocked health campaigners

“Nothing could make America less healthy than having a cancer causing product in cosmetics,” said Scott Faber, vice-president of government affairs with the Environmental Working Group non-profit, which has lobbied for stricter regulations around talc. “It’s hard to understand why we would revoke a rule that simply requires companies to test for asbestos.”

The FDA did not immediately post a press release announcing the move, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But in a legal notice posted to the federal registry, the agency wrote that the decision was in response to comments it received about potential “unintended consequences” for companies that produce drugs, which suggests drugmakers were opposed to testing.