South Korea updates the regulation on cosmetic safety standards

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in South Korea updated the regulation on cosmetic safety standards on April 1^st, 2022. This is to strengthen the safety management of cosmetics and protect public health, as well as strengthening the competitiveness of the cosmetics industry.

The main updates are as follows:

1. Addition of prohibited raw materials for cosmetics and reinforcement in usage restriction standards (Annex 1 & 2)

• Adding some components of persistent pollutants and perfluorinated compounds to raw materials that cannot be used
• Prohibiting benzalkonium chloride (BKC) for spray products

2. Establishment of exceptions for raw materials that cannot be used in cosmetics (Annex 1)

• Establishing management standards for cannabis that can be unintentionally included from certain parts of cannabis (Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol from hemp seed oil and hemp seed extract)
• Setting a permissible limit for radioactive materials that may exist in nature
• Setting a permissible standard of Fluorescent Brightener 367, which are raw materials prohibited for use in cosmetics, based on the risk assessment result

3. Addition of raw materials that can be used as hair dyes and setting an upper concentration limit (Annex 2)

• Adding 10 ingredients that can be used for hair dye and setting the upper concentration limit for using it based on functional cosmetics examination cases

4. Modification of terminology according to clarification of raw material names and revision of upper laws and regulations (Annex 2 & 3)

• Modifying phrases related to the upper concentration limit when using ‘p-methylaminophenol’
• Revising “cosmetics manufacturer and distributor” to “responsible cosmetic distributor” reflecting the amendments of the Cosmetics Act

Part of Annex 2, updates on Benzalkonium Chloride and Indigofera Leaf Powder, will come into effect from October 1^st, 2022.

All other amendment came into effect immediately.