ASEAN Ban 3-Benzylidene Camphor and Add 9 Restricted Hair Dyes

Background:

With an aim to coordinate, review and monitor the implementation of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) and review and update the technical documents, ASEAN Cosmetic Committee semi-annually organizes a meeting with representatives from each member state’s regulatory authority and ASEAN Cosmetic Association.

During the 23rd ACC Meeting and its related events, several amendments to ACD technical documents were proposed and passed. Corresponding grace periods for different countries were simultaneously determined based on industry status quos.

UV filter 3-Benzylidene camphor will be banned for use in Cosmetics, which are added to the Annex II “List of Substances Which Must Not Form Part of the Composition of Cosmetic Products”. Different implementation grace periods for the ban are:

• Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore until 30th June 2016
• Indonesia and Philippines 6-12 months (until Nov 30 2016-May 31 2017)
• Thailand and Vietnam 12 months (until May 31 2017)
• And pending Brunei Darussalam input

In addition, 9 hair dyes are permitted to be used but shall comply with the restrictions and application conditions prescribed:

• HC Blue No 17
• HC Blue No 15
• Acid Green 25
• Acid Violet 43
• Disperse Red 17
• Acid Black 1
• Pigment Red 57
• 1,4-Benzene-diamine, 2-(methoxymethy1); 1,4-Benzene-diamine, 2-(methoxymethy1), sulfate; 2-Methoxy-methyl-p-Phenylene-diamine; 2-Methoxy-methyl-p-Phenylene-diamine, sulfate
• 1-N-Methyl-morpholinium-propylamino-4-hydroxy-anthraquinone, methyl sulfate; Hydoxyanthra-quinone-aminoprepyl Methyl Morpholinium Methosulfate

The 9 hair dyes have yet to be incorporated in ACD Annex III “List of Substances Which Cosmetic Products Must Not Contain except Subject to Restrictions and Conditions Laid Down”. The grace period for the 9 hair dyes is 12 months (until May 31 2017), applicable to all ASEAN member states.

Other proposed amendments include:

1. Annex II ref # 419: replace the original text with “Category 1 material and Category 2 material as defined in ASEAN definition of animal products Category 1, 2 and 3”
2. Inclusion of ASEAN definition on animal products Category 1, 2 and 3 as part of Annex II