Vietnam Strengthens Oversight of Cosmetic Trading on Social Media

On January 13, 2025, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV), under the Ministry of Health, issued Official Dispatch No. 119/QLD-MP, focusing on the regulation of cosmetic production and trading across popular social media platforms like TikTok, Zalo, Facebook, YouTube, and e-commerce websites. The move is aimed at ensuring the quality and safety of cosmetics sold online while tackling issues of counterfeit and unauthorized products.

The main objectives of this directive are to detect and address the production and sale of counterfeit cosmetics and products of unclear origin, ensuring the protection of consumer rights and public health. Recent inspections have uncovered significant issues, including businesses being unreachable via the contact details provided on registration certificates or websites. Furthermore, many of these businesses had outdated or incorrect addresses, failing to report changes in their location or legal representation, which has complicated regulatory inspections.

In response, the DAV has instructed provincial health departments to collaborate with the 389 Steering Committee and Market Surveillance Agency to monitor cosmetics sold on social media and e-commerce platforms. The government will enforce strict penalties against businesses engaged in false advertising, the sale of counterfeit or substandard products, and those that fail to comply with relevant regulations. Non-compliant products will be removed and destroyed to safeguard public health.

Cosmetic companies are required to adhere to Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT, which mandates the submission of accurate product declarations and maintenance of updated Product Information Files (PIF). Before products are allowed on the market, they must be approved and registered, and businesses must be prepared to present their PIFs upon request during inspections.

The DAV’s directive underscores its commitment to robust post-market surveillance to ensure safety, quality, and efficacy across all cosmetic products in Vietnam. This regulatory update significantly tightens oversight on cosmetics traded digitally, placing pressure on businesses to ensure their product declarations are accurate and that their business details are up-to-date.

The directive took effect immediately following its issuance on January 13, 2025, and businesses must act promptly to comply with the outlined regulations. Companies involved in the cosmetic sector should ensure their products meet the requirements of Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT, review their contact details, and ensure their business addresses are accurate to avoid penalties or product removals. Being prepared for inspections and keeping accessible, up-to-date PIFs is crucial for compliance.