Thailand Proposes to Amend Cosmetic Ingredient Lists: Nine Ingredients Added and Three Revised

On October 4, 2023, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) initiated a 24-day public consultation, unveiling four draft notifications aiming at revising the cosmetic ingredient lists—a crucial set of technical standards for cosmetics in the country. The objective is to align these regulations with the updated ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD). ¹

The proposed changes encompass the addition and revision of permitted preservatives, as well as restricted and prohibited ingredients in cosmetics. Specifics are as follows (the text in red indicates changes to the previous lists):

1. List of Prohibited Ingredients: one added and one revised ²

If cosmetic stakeholders will have already manufactured, imported, or sold products containing the newly prohibited ingredient Deoxyarbutin (No. 1611) before the effective date of the official announcement, they will be granted a 180-day grace period.

2. List of Restricted Ingredients: eight added and one revised ³

With reference to updates in the ACD, the Thai FDA intends to amend the use requirements for Climbazole and introduce eight new restricted ingredients. Similar to the grace period for prohibited ingredients, cosmetic stakeholders will have 180 days after the effective date if they have already manufactured, imported, or sold items containing the listed ingredients.

• Labeling Updates ⁴
  

Moreover, to maintain consistency with the revised restricted ingredient list, the Thai FDA also plans to modify the labeling requirements for the affected ingredients in the List of Warnings on Labels for Cosmetic Containing Restricted Ingredient. The labeling requirements for silver nitrate (original entry 45), currently listed as a prohibited ingredient, will be removed. Additionally, the labeling requirements for Climbazole (No. 73) will be modified, and the labeling requirements for the eight newly listed ingredients will be added.

Products with old labels can be sold in the transitional period but must with updated labels that comply with the new requirements within 180 days after the official effective date.

3. List of Permitted Preservatives: one revised ⁵

It is important to note that if cosmetic stakeholders will have already manufactured, imported, or sold products containing Climbazole before the effective date of the official announcement, they will also enjoy a 180-day grace period.