South Korea’s 2025 Cosmetic Act Amendment: Stronger Safety Requirements and Centralized Information System.

On July 3rd, 2025, South Korea announced a partial amendment of Cosmetic Act, in response to international regulatory trends—such as mandatory cosmetic safety assessments recently adopted in the U.S. and China. The amendment aims to enhance its cosmetic safety standards to match or exceed global benchmarks.  

Key Contents  

1. Mandatory Cosmetic Safety Assessments 

• Cosmetic manufacturers (responsible sellers) must prepare and retain safety assessment documentation for each product before distribution or sale. 

• Assessments must be reviewed by qualified safety experts. 

• The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) may request submission of safety documents if health risks are suspected. 

• Administrative and financial support will be available to assist companies with compliance. 

2. Establishment of a Cosmetic Safety Information Center 

• MFDS will designate specialized institutions to act as Cosmetic Safety Information Centers, responsible for performing ingredient risk assessment, supporting product safety evaluations, training safety evaluators, conducting testing, R&D, and public education. 

3. Launch of an Integrated Cosmetic Information System 

• A centralized digital platform will be created to manage safety data, covering Ingredient risk assessments and manufacturing, import, and usage records. 

• Public agencies must share relevant data upon request, in compliance with privacy laws. 

4. Penalties & Compliance Measures 

• Companies that fail to prepare or store safety assessments, including those not complying with MFDS submission requests, will face legal penalties. 

• Specific products, such as those marketed for infants or children, will require stricter review. 

Implementation Timeline 

• Law will come into effect one year after promulgation, and enforcement dates may vary by product, based on production volume or market relevance, as determined by Presidential Decree.