On 17 August, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) promulgated the revised Cosmetic Act, which has altered legislation in several important ways
On 17 August, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) promulgated the revised Cosmetic Act, which has altered legislation in several important ways.
To improve the safety management of custom cosmetics, a facility standard has been established, the list of ingredients must be published and the final product cannot be sub-divided.
In addition, the duty of custom cosmetic compounding managers is specified and they are not allowed to distribute or sell any cosmetics for which animal testing was conducted under Article 2(1) of the Laboratory Animal Act.
As of 18 September, the manufacture, importing, displaying and sale of cosmetics that simulate foods in form, container or packaging has been banned to prevent consumers from eating by mistake. There are also new packaging and labelling requirements related to solid soaps
The new Act also imposes fines of up to KRW 30 million ($25.6 million) or up to three years in prison for filling a business registration or report, or inspecting or reporting the functional cosmetics by fraud or other improper means.
