Korea Consults on Amendments to Cosmetic Safety Standard

Takehome:

The amendments append the negative list, increase the stringency of limitations on 5 preservatives and improve testing methods on methanol and microorganisms.

On Oct 23, 2018, Korean MFDS released an announcement amending Cosmetic Safety Standard. Several prohibited ingredients are newly added, limitations on 5 preservatives are adjusted, and testing methods on methanol and microorganisms are improved. Public consultation will last until Dec 23, 2018. If you have any suggestions, you mail [email protected].

The main amendments are as follows:

Newly added prohibited ingredients:

Nitromethane (Delete it from the list of restricted ingredients. Currently the limitation is 0.3%)

Methylene glycol

2,6-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde (Atranol)

3-Chloro-2,6-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde (Chloroatranol)

Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde (HICC)

Prohibited ingredients stipulated in the Article 2, Clause 9 and Article 27 of Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals（K-REACH）

Changes to List of Restricted Preservatives in Cosmetics:

Ingredients	Current Concentration Limit (%)	Concentration Limit after Amendment (%)
4,4-Dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine	0.1%	0.05%
p-Chloro-m-cresol	0.2%	0.04%
Chlorophene (2-Benzyl-4-Chlorophenol)	0.2%	0.05%
Propionic Acid Sodium Propionate Calcium Propionate Ammonium Propionate Magnesium Propionate Potassium Propionate	As a propionic acid, 2%	As a propionic acid, 0.9%
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate	Allow to wash product after use (prohibited in other products)	Allow to wash product after use (prohibited to use in products containing amine or amide) (prohibited in other products)

3. Improve testing methods of methanol and micro-organisms in cosmetics.

Pretreatment of methanol and microorganisms samples is improved

4. Change the term "sterilization preservatives" in Article 8 of the Cosmetics Act to "preservatives".