South Korea Bans Atopy-Relieving Claims on Functional Cosmetics

The category name of “functional cosmetics helpful in alleviating the skin dryness caused by atopy” is amended into “functional cosmetics helpful in restoring the skin barrier function to relieve the skin itching”. Claims related to "atopy" are forbidden from using in functional cosmetics.

On August 5, 2020, MFDS issued and implemented the revised Enforcement Rule of Cosmetics Act ^[1]. As per the amendments published, the previous functional cosmetics category name "functional cosmetics helpful in alleviating the skin dryness caused by atopic skin" is changed into "functional cosmetics helpful in restoring the skin function to relieve the skin itching". By deleting the expression of "atopy", which is likely to mislead consumers into thinking the cosmetics are medicines, the competent authority reinforced the management of functional cosmetics claims.

Therefore, as per Article 2 of the Enforcement Rule of Cosmetics Act, the functional cosmetics categories are adjusted as the following.

1. Cosmetics which have efficacy helpful in skin-whitening by curbing the formation of marks, freckles, etc. through prevention of skin pigmentation of melanin;

2. Cosmetics which have efficacy helpful in skin-whitening by fading melanin pigmentation in skin;

3. Cosmetics which have efficacy in smoothing or improving skin wrinkles by firming skin;

4. Cosmetics which have efficacy in tanning skin gently by screening strong sun light;

5. Cosmetics which have efficacy in protecting skin from ultraviolet rays by intercepting or scattering them;

6. Cosmetics with the function of changing (including the function of bleaching or removing) the color of hair: excluding: however, the products which temporarily change the color of hair;

7. Cosmetics with the function of removing body hair: excluding, however, products which remove body hair in a physical manner;

8. Cosmetics which help alleviate alopecia: excluding, however, products which make hair look thick in a physical manner such as coating;

9. Cosmetics which help alleviate acneiform skin conditions: limited, however, to kinds of products for cleaning human body;

10. Cosmetics which help restore the skin barrier function to relieve the skin itching;

11. Cosmetics which help thinning red lines caused by striae distensa.

As of the implementation of the revised enforcement rule, the labels of functional cosmetics are prohibited from indicating any effect of relieving the atopy symptoms. Stakeholders are suggested to check the label and package of functional cosmetics to ensure no "atopy" or other medical claims are printed.

Further Reading

CosmePedia: South Korea Functional Cosmetic Regulation
Cosme-List: South Korea: Functional Cosmetics Scope
Cosme-List: South Korea: Approved Ingredients for Functional Cosmetics (2019)
News: South Korea to Reinforce the Evaluation of Functional Cosmetics Registration
Expert Article: Advertising Cosmetics in South Korea (Korea's Advertising Requirements and Non-compliance Examples)