Sri Lanka Proposes Stricter Mercury Limits for 16 Cosmetic Standards

On November 26, 2025, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) released 16 draft amendments to cosmetic standards covering products such as skin powders, toothpaste, baby cologne, skin creams and lotions, hair care products, shampoos, and lipsticks. The proposed revisions aim to significantly tighten the permissible limits for mercury and update the corresponding testing methods to align with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments on the drafts before January 20, 2026.

Key Revisions

Across all 16 draft amendments, SLSI proposes reducing the maximum mercury limit to 0.1 mg/kg, replacing the previous limits of 1 mg/kg or 0.2 mg/kg depending on the product category. The amendments also introduce two updated analytical methods for determining mercury levels:

SLS ISO 23674 Direct determination of traces of mercury in cosmetics by thermal decomposition and atomic absorption spectrometry (mercury analyser): designated as the reference method and will be applied in the event of disputes.
SLS ISO 21392 Measurement of trace of heavy metals in cosmetic finished products using ICP/MS technique: serve as an alternative testing method

In most cases, these methods replace the outdated ISO/TR 17276. For toothpaste, the draft additionally introduces a new requirement for packaging and labelling to comply with SLS 1587.

Summary of Draft Amendments

No.	Standard	Proposed Changes
1	SLS 187: 2025 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Skin Powder for Children (Third Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Reduce the mercury limit from 1 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg; Update mercury content determination methods from SLS ISO/TR 17276 to SLS ISO 21392.
2	SLS 275: 2014 Sri Lanka Standard Specification for Toothpaste (Third Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 03)	Reduce the mercury limit from 0.2 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg; Update mercury content determination methods to SLS ISO 23674 and ISO 21392, with SLS ISO 23674 as the primary reference method and applied in case of disputes; Add a new requirement requiring that the marking and labelling comply with SLS 1587.
3	SLS 389: 2014 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Skin Powders (Second Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 02)	Reduce the mercury limit from 1 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg; Update mercury content determination methods to SLS ISO 23674 and ISO 21392, with SLS ISO 23674 as the primary reference method and applied in case of disputes.
4	SLS 589: 2018 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Baby Cologne (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 03)	Same changes as above
5	SLS 611: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Hair Creams (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
6	SLS 742: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Skin Creams and Lotions for Babies (Second Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 02)	Same changes as above
7	SLS 743: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Skin Creams and Lotions (Second Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 02)	Same changes as above
8	SLS 796: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Shaving Creams (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
9	SLS 1191: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Baby Oil (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 02)	Same changes as above
10	SLS 1341: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Hair Oil (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
11	SLS 1342: 2018 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Hair Shampoo for Babies (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
12	SLS 1346: 2018 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Hair Shampoo (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 02)	Same changes as above
13	SLS 1439: 2021 Sri Lanka Standards Specification for Liquid, Gel and Emulsion Oxidative Hair Dyes (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
14	SLS 1440: 2021 Sri Lanka Standard Specification for Hair Dye Powder (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
15	SLS 1464: 2021 Sri Lanka Standard Specification for Lipstick (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above
16	SLS 1619: 2018 Sri Lanka Standard Specification for Perfume and Toilet Water (First Revision) (Draft Amendment No. 01)	Same changes as above

Impact on Businesses

The proposed amendments will have a direct impact on cosmetic manufacturers, importers, and distributors in Sri Lanka. Companies must ensure their products can meet the more stringent mercury limit of 0.1 mg/kg. This will likely necessitate a thorough review of raw material sourcing and supply chains to prevent heavy metal contamination.

Furthermore, manufacturers will need to update their internal quality control protocols and laboratory testing procedures to align with the newly specified analytical methods. Adherence to these updated standards will be essential for maintaining regulatory compliance, enhancing consumer safety, and aligning Sri Lankan products with global best practices.