South Korea to Implement Category Management, Standard and Testing Methods for Cosmetic Colorants

6 colorants that are irritating to the cornea are prohibited from being used in cosmetics applied to or applied in the vicinity of the eyes. Pigment Red 5 is newly added list of colorants permitted in solid soaps. Restrictions on 2 colorants are amended.

On August 29, 2019, South Korea released the amended Guidance on Category Management, Standard and Testing Methods for Cosmetic Colorants ^[1]. The new guidance will take effect on March 1, 2020 ^[2]. Cosmetics manufactured or imported in accordance with the previous guidance before March 1, 2020, can be circulated and sold before March 1, 2022.

The main amendments are as follows:

1. Six colorants that are irritating to the cornea are prohibited from being used in vicinity of eyes. The area around eyes include eyebrow, skin under eyebrow, eyelid, eyelash, and bones around eyes (including eyeballs, conjunctival sac and sclera). The 6 colorants are as follows:

No.	Colorants	Color Index	Restriction	Note
24	Dibromofluorescein	CI 45370:1	Cannot be applied around eyes	Tar colorants
29	Eosine YS	CI 45380
30	Phloxine B	CI 45410
31	Phloxine BK	CI 45410
34	Tetrachlorotetrabromofluorescein	CI 45410:1
36	Tetrabromofluorescein	CI 45380:2

2. Pigment Red 5 is now permitted for use as a colorant in solid soaps. Solid soaps will be classified as cosmetics on Dec. 31, 2019 ^[3]. To align with the conversion, Pigment Red 5 is newly added in the list of permitted colorants for cosmetics. It is only applied to solid soaps and will take effect on Dec. 31, 2019.

No.	Colorants	Color Index	Restriction	Note
127	Pigment Red 5	CI 12490	Can only be applied to solid soaps	Tar colorants

3. Restrictions on 2 colorants are amended.

No.	Colorants	Color Index	Restriction	Note
26	Amaranth	CI 16185	Cannot be applied to baby products or products labeled that can be used for children under 13 years old	Tar colorants
28	New Coccine	CI 16255		Tar colorants