Laboratory testing of two popular baby care products of US firm Johnson & Johnson has been ordered by a child rights body of the government after taking suo motu cognizance of a number of US court orders against it over alleged lack of warning about health risks of its talc-based products.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked five states — Gujarat, Jharkhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh — to collect the samples of Johnson & Johnson baby powder and shampoo for testing.

In the letters to states last month, the NCPCR said there were news reports highlighting the concerns about the use of products manufactured by Johnson and Johnson as they may contain carcinogenic substances like asbestos and formaldehyde. The NCPCR old the states to carry out the tests only in government-accredited laboratories.

The testing was ordered following reports that a US court in February awarded $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer claiming that it was caused after prolonged used the company’s talcum powder.

The Commission has asked the states to submit the report within 30 days of the issuance of letter on May 17. The NCPCR said the reports of the tests will be placed before an expert committee for further examination and action.