South Korea Proposes Stricter Cosmetic Safety Standards and New UV Filter Ingredient

On August 2, 2024, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced a proposed revision to the “Regulations on Cosmetic Safety Standards” (Notification No. 2024-9, dated February 7, 2024). This revision is part of an ongoing effort to enhance the safety of cosmetic products by tightening the usage standards for certain ingredients based on risk assessment outcomes, in accordance with the Cosmetic Act Article 8. Additionally, the revision introduces a new UV filter ingredient following its evaluation under the “Regulations on the Designation and Change of Cosmetic Ingredient Standards.”

The proposed changes include several important updates that are expected to impact the cosmetics industry:

• Exclusion of Lawsone and Dihydroxyacetone Mixture: The revision proposes removing this mixture from the list of approved UV filtering components, reflecting updated safety assessments.
• Adjustments to Concentration Limits: The revision tightens the concentration limits and usage standards for six ingredients, including Benzophenone-3, to further protect public health.
• Introduction of a New UV Filter: ‘Tris-Biphenyl Triazine’ has been successfully evaluated and is now added to the list of UV filter ingredients with restricted use in cosmetics.

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