Japan JCIA Updates Voluntary Standards for Tar Colors

On March 19, 2024, Japan Cosmetics Industry Association (JCIA) released an amendment for Voluntary Standards for Tar Colors in Cosmetics. The amendment stated that the JCIA established voluntary management limits to regulate the presence of specific aromatic amines and potential impurities in nine types of tar colors, setting maximum limits for five specific aromatic amines.

Voluntary Standards for Nine Tar Colors

Tar colors	Specific aromatic amines	Limits
Deep Maroon	β-naphthylamine	Below 1ppm
Sudan III	4-aminoazobenzene*	Below 1,000ppm
Ponceau SX	2,4-Dimethyl aniline	Below 375ppm
Resorcin Brown	2,4-Dimethyl aniline	Below 375ppm
Benzidine Yellow G	3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine	Below 150ppm
Violamine R	o-toluidine	Below 300ppm
Brilliant Lake Red R	4-aminoazobenzene*	Below 0.5ppm (detection limit)
Fast Acid Magenta	4-aminoazobenzene*	Below 0.5ppm (detection limit)
Naphthol Blue Black	4-aminoazobenzene*	Below 0.5ppm (detection limit)
*Regarding 4-aminoazobenzene, the maximum limit for Sudan III, which is a raw material for the color, differs from the other three colors (Brilliant Lake Red R, Fast Acid Magenta, and Naphthol Blue Black), as they are generated as impurities from reaction by-products are different. These limits have been established based on the principle of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), which aims to achieve the lowest levels reasonably attainable, taking into account the regulations in the United States (Sudan III: 1,000ppm, Fast Acid Magenta: 100ppb) as a reference.

Regulatory Requirements for Tar Dyes in Japan

The use of tar colors in Japanese cosmetics can be referenced from the Standards for Cosmetics, which currently include a total of 83 tar colors in the positive list.

As the authoritative body in the Japanese cosmetics industry, the JCIA has developed the Voluntary Standards for Tar Colors in Cosmetics, taking into consideration the actual production process of various enterprises, as well as concerns about the safety of impurities. Now this voluntary standard prohibits the use of 20 colors in cosmetics.

Notably, although these standards are voluntary, they carry significant influence within the cosmetics industry. All stakeholders are advised to ensure that their products comply with the relevant voluntary standards.