2025 Asian Cosmetics Regulatory Updates (March)
2025 Asian Cosmetics Regulatory Updates (March)
1. Macao, China Bans Import, Export, and Transit of Specific Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Related Products:
On March 18, 2025, Macao, China, submitted a notification to the WTO announcing a ban on the import, export, and transit of chemicals listed in Annex I and goods listed in Annex II of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants into the Macao Special Administrative Region. The ban is effective immediately.
2. Taiwan, China Implements Voluntary Carbon Footprint Labeling and Management Measures:
On March 19, 2025, Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) released the "Voluntary Product Carbon Footprint Verification and Labeling Management Measures" to encourage companies to voluntarily disclose their product carbon footprints. The measures are effective from the date of publication.
3. Japan Revises Quasi-drug Ingredient Standards and Licensing Requirements:
On March 21, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced major revisions to the "Japanese Quasi-drug Ingredient Standards 2021" (JSQI 2021). JSQI 2021 provides the fundamental technical standards for quasi-drug ingredients, outlining the basic specifications and testing methods required for compliance.
These revisions update various general testing methods and ingredient specifications to improve quality control and regulatory consistency. The revisions are effective immediately, with a transition period until September 30, 2026, allowing companies to continue using the old standards during this time.
4. South Korea to Abolish Natural and Organic Cosmetics Certification System:
On January 31, 2025, South Korea enacted the "Cosmetic Act," abolishing the natural and organic cosmetics certification system, effective August 1, 2025.
To facilitate a smooth transition, on March 26, 2025, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued three public consultation notices proposing the deletion of clauses and regulations related to natural and organic cosmetics certification. The public consultation periods ended on April 16, 2025, and May 7, 2025, respectively.
5. South Korea Releases Guidelines for Application to Lift Bans on Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients:
Following amendments to the "Cosmetic Act" on February 6, 2024, cosmetic companies can apply to lift or modify restrictions on banned ingredients. To support this, on March 26, 2025, the MFDS published and implemented the "Regulations on Lifting (Modifying) Bans on Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients and Specifying (Modifying) Ingredient Standards," providing guidance for companies submitting applications.
The new regulations clarify that "banned ingredients" refer to those listed in Appendix 1 of the "Regulations on Cosmetic Safety Standards, etc." They also define the required document types for applications to lift or modify bans on ingredients and provide detailed specifications for each document type.