Korea Consults on Amendments to Requirements for Evaluation of Functional Cosmetics

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is soliciting public consultation on the amendments to “Requirements for Evaluation of Functional Cosmetics” until February 10th 2015.

In an effort to boost the international competitiveness of Korea’s domestic cosmetic industry, the MFDS is to permit functional cosmetics manufacturers/importers conducting product safety and efficacy evaluation to submit activity testing documentation included in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) instead of only allowing those included in the Science Citation Index (SCI). This means that the scientific testing documentation previously excluded in the SCI will be acceptable soon.

It is also proposed that the microbiological testing items should be deleted from the “Requirements for Evaluation of Functional Cosmetics” and the permitted concentration limits of 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor should be changed to 4% in order to align the standard with the “Requirements for Cosmetics Safety Standards”.