News Details
South Korea Updates Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics containing Salicylic Acid
On 29 July 2024, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published a notice regarding the use of salicylic acid in cosmetics. Salicylic acid is commonly used as a preservative in general cosmetics, but in some cosmetics, it has been inappropriately advertised as an exfoliating and sebum-controlling ingredient.
Regulatory Guidance
The MFDS emphasized that the labeling and promotion of general cosmetics containing salicylic acid for purposes other than preservation is prohibited.
While extracts containing salicylic acid can be advertised for their role in general cosmetics, such as exfoliation control, the salicylic acid component itself cannot be promoted for these purposes.
Salicylic Acid Concentration in Cosmetics
The concentration limits for salicylic acid and its salts as a preservative, categorized by product type are listed below:
|
Raw material |
Limit of Use |
Note |
Cas No |
Chemical name |
|
Salicylic acid and its salts |
0.5% use in general cosmetics |
Not for the products used on infants and children under 13 years of age |
69-72-7 |
Salicylic acid |
|
824-35-1 |
Calcium salicylate |
|||
|
2% use in body cleansing products |
18917-89-0 |
Magnesium salicylate |
||
|
59866-70-5 |
MEA salicylate |
|||
|
3% use in washed-off products |
54-21-7 |
Sodium salicylate |
||
|
578-36-9 |
Potassium salicylate |
|||
|
2174-16-5 |
TEA- Salicylate |
|||
|
17671-53-3 |
Betaine Salicylate |
Deadlines for Compliance
The published notice clarifies the labeling requirements for cosmetics containing salicylic acid. Companies that have already marketed products containing salicylic acid will be given a grace period to make corrections. The advertisement corrections must be made by January 2025 and labeling corrections by July 2025. The MFDS will also oversee the labeling and advertising of cosmetic products containing salicylic acid.
We acknowledge that the above information has been compiled from South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) .
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