Thailand updated restricted and prohibited substance lists for cosmetics

The Thailand Cosmetic Regulation or Cosmetic Act B.E. was officially finalized in the year 1992. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has updated its lists of prohibited and restricted substances for use in cosmetic products. 

Many of the changes bring the country into line with the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) Cosmetic Directive (ACD), to which Thailand is a signatory. To change the status the act was legitimately amended in the year 2015 and was published in Royal Thai government Gazette on 8th September 2015 and came into force from 9th September 2015.

The Act was amende by the Thailand’s FDA on June 26, 2020 and was enforced on June 27, 2020, It requires information on those that contain specific thresholds, conditions of use and product types for each substance.

The substances on the list which are subject to updates are: 

• triclosan – the ministry set an allowable concentration limit of 0.3 % for 11 types of rinse-off products and 0.2% limit for mouthwash. These limits are lower than those imposed by some Asean countries;
• tagetes minuta flower extract/oil – the ministry set a maximum concentration limit of 0.01% for leave‐on products and 0.1% for rinse‐off products; and 
• tagetes patula flower extract/oil – the ministry set a maximum concentration limit of 0.01% for leave‐on products and 0.1% for rinse‐off products.

Cosmetics products must be labelled properly according to the  requirements of Thai legal labelling. It should be done within  30 days before placing it to Thailand’s market. According to the ACD, these limits will be effective from 19 December.

In Thailand the following enforcement dates apply:

• 27 June 2020 – for new products entering the market; and
• 27 June 2021 – for products already existing on the market prior to 27 June 2020.

Cosmetic products cannot exceed these concentration limits and conditions of use without prior approval from the authorities.

Prohibited chemicals

The ministry has also added seven chemicals to its list of those banned for use in cosmetic products. These include: 

• ketoconazole;
• 3- and 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl) cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde (HICC);
• 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde (atranol); and
• 3-chloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde (chloroatranol).

The following are banned from use in hair dye products in line with restrictions under the ACD:

• 2 -chloro-p-phenylenediamine (INCI) 2 -chlorobenzene -1,4 -diamine;
• 2 -chloro-p-phenylenediamine (INCI) 2 -chlorobenzene -1,4 -diamine and its sulfate; and 
• dihydrochloride salts.

Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are all prohibited from using these chemicals in cosmetic products. The restrictions came into force on 27 June, 2020.