The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has filed a lawsuit against FDA for failing to finalize a document that would regulate certain "toxic" chemicals found in antimicrobial or antibacterial soaps and other personal care products.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asks the court to impose a strict deadline for FDA to finalize the rule.

U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is also named as a defendant.

"Washing your hands with so-called antibacterial soap containing triclosan or triclocarban actually does nothing different than using regular soap and water. Using soap containing these chemicals does not provide an additional benefit as consumers might think, but instead actually comes with potential health risks,” said Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist in the Health and Environment Program at NRDC. “The FDA needs to prohibit these harmful chemicals from being put into products in the first place."