FDA Bans Powdered Medical Gloves

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule that, effective 18 January, will ban powdered surgeon’s gloves, powdered patient examination gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating a surgeon’s glove after having determined that these goods present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury that cannot be corrected or eliminated by labelling or a change in labelling. This ban will apply to such goods already in commercial distribution or sold to the ultimate user as well as those that would be sold or distributed in the future.

The ban does not apply to the non-powdered versions of the above types of gloves, powder used in the manufacturing process of non-powdered gloves where that powder is not intended to be part of the final finished gloves, or powder intended for use in or on other medical devices.