Korea Consults on Amendments to Colorants Guidance

Korea MFDS recently consulted on the amendments to “Guidance on Category Management, Standard and Testing Methods for Cosmetic Colorants”. The amendments are:

1. 25 kinds of colorants used as hair dyes which are permitted for use in foreign countries and have proven safety profiles have been newly added

2. Integrate annex 1 “Permitted Tar Colors in Cosmetics” and annex 2 “Permitted Colorants except Tar Colors in Cosmetics”. All the permitted colorants are subject to uniform management other than classification management based on purpose.

3. Integrate the contents relating to testing methods of the two categories of colorants

The amendments mainly simplify the classification and management of colorants. The addition of colorants in conformity with international standards will obviously be better received by international hair dye companies than by domestic companies. International companies will be able to export existing products containing newly permitted colorants immediately and consolidate market share whereas domestic companies will need time to engage in R&D before they can release products.