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According to the Thailand Food and Drug Administration, the Cosmetic Act B.E. 2015 was updated multiple times in the first half of 2020.
1. Amendments to the Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients
On 27 December 2019, Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) issued a circular amending the list of restricted cosmetic ingredients. As per the notification, twenty substances had their concentration thresholds updated in which the ready for use preparation increased from 0.11% to 0.15% [1].
Previous Maximum Authorized Concentration | Current Maximum Authorized Concentration |
0.11% calculated as F. When mixed with other fluorine compounds permitted under this Annex, total F concentration must not exceed 0.11% | 0.15% calculated as F. When mixed with other fluorine compounds permitted under this Annex, total F concentration must not exceed 0.15% |
The revised 20 ingredients are:
1. Ammonium monofluorophosphate 2. Sodium monofluorophosphate 3. Potassium monofluorophosphate 4. Calcium monofluorophosphate 5. Calcium fluoride 6. Sodium fluoride 7. Potassium fluoride 8. Ammonium fluoride 9. Aluminium fluoride 10. Stannous fluoride 11. Cetylamine hydrofluoride | 12. Olaflur 13. N,N',N'-Tris(polyoxyethylene)-N-hexadecylpropylenediamine dihydrofluoride 14. Octadecenyl-ammonium fluoride 15. Sodium fluorosilicate 16. Potassium fluorosilicate 17. Ammonium fluorosilicate 18. Magnesium fluorosilicate 19. Nicomethanol hydrofluoride 20. Magnesium fluoride |
2. Amendments to the Permitted Preservatives
On 9 March, the MOPH announced changes to the list of preservatives permitted in cosmetics [2] and the list of permitted sunscreens with immediate effect. Besides, the labeling requirements associated with these substances were also modified accordingly. Specifics are as follows:
The entry of o-phenylphenol was revised to delete its salts and limit its use to certain product types.
Comparison | Preservatives | Maximum Concentration (w/w) | Conditions | ||
Chemical Name | INCI Name | CAS Number | |||
Previous entry | Biphenyl-2-ol and its salts | o-phenylphenol; Sodium o-phenylphenate; Potassium o-phenylphenate; MEA o-phenylphenate. | 90-43-7 132-27-4 13707-65-8 84145-04-0 | 0.2% (Calculated as phenol) | - |
Current entry | Biphenyl-2-ol | o-phenylphenol | 90-43-7 | 0.2% (Calculated as phenol) | For rinse-off products |
0.15 (Calculated as phenol) | For leave-on products | ||||
Significantly, a one-year grace period was granted for stakeholders who have obtained cosmetic certificates to make necessary adjustments. The wording “Avoid contact with eyes” shall be mentioned as a warning on the label of cosmetics with Biphenyl-2-ol [3].
The entry of Triclosan newly added the text “If the ingredient is used for other purposes (not as a preservative), the condition should be under the corresponding regulations prescribed by Ministry” to the conditions of use.
Preservatives | Maximum Concentration (w/w) | Conditions |
5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol
Triclosan (3380-34-5) | 0.3% | 1. Used in the following products: 1) Toothpaste 2) Hand Soaps 3) Cleansing Soaps 4) Liquid Skin Soaps 5) Deodorants (Non-Spray) 6) Face Powders 7) Blemish Concealers 8) Nail products for cleaning the fingernails and toenails before the application of artificial nail systems 9) Shampoo 10) Hair Care Products 11) Skin Cleansing Products 2. If the ingredient is used for other purposes (not as a preservative), the condition should be under the corresponding regulations prescribed by Ministry. |
0.2% | 1. Only for mouthwashes 2. If the ingredient is used for other purposes (not as a preservative), the condition should be under the corresponding regulations prescribed by Ministry. |
3. Addition of a Permitted Sunscreen
According to the above notice, the new UV filter Phenylene Bis Diphenyltriazine was newly added as the 29th entry under the list of permitted sunscreens by the Thailand MOPH [4].
No. | Sunscreens | Maximum Concentration (w/w) | Conditions | ||
Chemical Name | INCI Name | CAS Number | |||
29 | 3,3′-(1,4-Phenylene) bis(5,6-diphenyl1,2,4-triazine) | Phenylene Bis Diphenyltriazine | 55514-22-2 | 5% | Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end user's lungs by inhalation. |
Meanwhile, products containing this substance are required to print specific warning statements in Thai on the label [5]. The warning information includes:
The use of sunscreens is one way to reduce the dangers of sun exposure;
Please read the usage instructions carefully and strictly follow them;
Discontinue use and consult a doctor or pharmacist if any adverse reactions occur.
ChemLinked Comments
MOPH’s revisions to the above ingredients are in line with part of the updates to Annex III, VI, and VII under ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) as adopted in the past ASEAN Cosmetic Committee Meetings [6].
In fact, the cosmetic ingredient lists in Thailand are essentially the same as the structures under the ACD annexes, which are subject to regular updates. Although Thailand and other ASEAN member states have agreed to adopt the ACD, it will take some time to enter the updates into their laws as the Agreement on ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme did not specify any deadline for adoption.
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