Solid Soaps Exempt from Customized Cosmetics Sales Registration in South Korea

Earlier ChemLinked reported that South Korea will classify solid soaps, black hair powder and hair removal wax as cosmetics ^[1]. This provision will be effective on Dec. 31, 2019. Following that, on July 30, 2019, South Korea released an announcement amending Cosmetics Act ^[2]. Solid soaps being repackaged in small quantities and other cosmetics designated by Prime Minister Decree, can be sold without customized cosmetics sales registration.

According to Cosmetics Act ^[3], customized cosmetics refers to cosmetics falling under any of the following:

• Cosmetics blended the contents of cosmetics manufactured or imported with the contents of other cosmetics or ingredients prescribed by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS);

• Cosmetics repackaged the contents of cosmetics manufactured or imported in small quantities.

Anyone who intends to sell customized cosmetics shall register with MFDS. Any enterprises engaged in the sales of customized cosmetics shall arrange a customized cosmetics prescription manager to carry out the dispensing and mixing of customized cosmetics. An MFDS qualification test must be passed before dispensing activities can commence.

Originally solid soaps repackaged in small quantities must complete the customized cosmetics sales registration and arrange a customized cosmetics prescription manager. But considering the irrationality of regarding solid soaps being repackaged in small quantities as customized cosmetics, South Korea planned to exempt solid soaps being repackaged in small quantities from customized cosmetics sales registration.

In addition, a collection of FAQs about solid soaps, black hair powder and hair removal wax was released by MFDS on August 2^{nd [4]}, which answers FAQs on manufacturer registration, responsible seller registration, packaging, labeling, quality control standards, transitional measures, etc. Please contact cosmetic@chemlinked.com if translations are needed.