South Korea Ratifies Non-animal Testing for Functional Cosmetics

According to the Notice of Partial Amendment of Rules for Examination of Functional Cosmetics released on 31 Dec 2013 by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), South Korea has sanctioned alternatives to animal testing for functional cosmetics.

The amendment is in accordance with global trend towards ethical alternatives to animal testing and was subject to a period of public consultation from 5 Dec to 26 Dec. The release of the notice officially ratifies these amendments and is effective immediately nationwide.  (ChemLinked news 11 Dec).

The Korean policy will not ban the use of animal testing for functional cosmetics; rather, it becomes an optional choice. It does however represent a quantum leap for the industry and the causes of animal rights activists and is surely a positive sign of things to come.

The new regulation is likely to open Korean markets to cosmetic companies that have historically been staunch advocates of non-animal testing of cosmetics and similarly open international markets to Korean companies that have the capacity to operate using non-animal testing methods. The impact the move will have on the domestic South Korean cosmetics industry is more difficult to predict. A hugely important factor is the disparity between the regulatory requirements of different global frameworks. The choice to preferentially adopt non-animal testing may be a double edged sword in that while European markets will be open for Korean companies the Chinese market still mandates animal testing be conducted on all imported products. In an exclusive interview with Chemlinked, Dr Nick Palmer Director of Policy of Cruelty Free International stated that Korean companies “are naturally keen to continue exporting to China, and as China’s new regulations will not apply to imports, the question is whether they can adjust their procedures to have the cosmetics made in China instead of Korea”.

Reference Link

MFDS New Release (KR)