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1. South Korea Introduces the Natural and Organic Cosmetic Raw Material Certification Mechanism
On January 29, 2021, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) introduced the raw material certification mechanism of natural and organic cosmetics. This new certification mechanism realized the natural and organic cosmetic accreditation by inspecting the raw materials instead of the final products. It reduces the preparation of the documents, which eases the industry's burden.
The enterprises that manufacture, process, or handle the natural or organic materials, can apply for the certificates to the designated institutions. The institutions will then review the contents of the materials in the product and issue a certificate to the applicant when the products comply with the content standard. Take a look under the hood here.
2. South Korean Cosmetic Dossier Online Submission System
Each time before exporting cosmetics to South Korea, the enterprise should submit an "entry notice of imported products (표준통관예정보고서)" to KPTA (Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association) and get an approval. Most dossiers for applying the approval were required to submit by mail.
On April 9, 2021, KPTA officially announced to accept the online submission of the imported cosmetics' certificates, in an effort to help the overseas enterprises trade with South Korea more smoothly amid the COVID-19. Nevertheless, the authority also listed situations where the original documents still need to be sent via mail. Get to know more details here.
3. South Korea Revises the Functional Cosmetics Evaluation Regulation
On June 30, 2021, MFDS modified the Functional Cosmetics Evaluation Regulation. The new regulation adds the ISO testing method as the method for determining the UV-blocking index, specifies the requirements of raw materials' origin and development process dossiers, and clarifies the standards for claiming "water resistance". Find out all you need to know here.
4. South Korea Releases New Packaging Material Requirements
On July 9, 2021, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) issued the Guideline on Recycling Symbols and Standards of Labeling Quality, which will take effect on January 1, 2022.
The authority newly introduced the "unable to recycle" label for goods whose packaging materials cannot be recycled. When the "difficult-to-recycle" materials are mixed with other materials, or the packaging is coated or laminated with other materials, the packaging materials shall label the "unable to recycle" symbol (See Figure 1).
(See Figure 1. Unable to recycle symbol ).
Besides, the recycling symbol texts indicating the packaging type and material are revised. A new exemption situation of labeling “difficult to recycle” is brought out. Additional details are here.
5. South Korea Revises Cosmetic Act
On August 17, 2021, MFDS promulgated the revised Cosmetic Act. The new regulation bans the sales of food-simulating cosmetics to prevent consumers from eating by mistake, intensifies the safety management of custom cosmetics, and exempts solid soap from labeling product information on the primary packaging. Get up to speed here.
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