New Contamination Standards for Cosmetics

The Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency recently issued Regulation No. HK.03.1.07.11.666.2 of 2011 on Microbial and Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cosmetics (“Regulation”), to protect the public from cosmetics that do not meet safety, usefulness and quality requirements. The regulation sets limitations on microbial and heavy metal contaminants in cosmetics, as agreed upon at the 2007 ASEAN Cosmetics Committee in Laos and Vietnam.

Article 1(1) defines cosmetics as any substance or preparation intended for use on the outside of the human body, or dental and oral mucous membranes, especially to clean, perfume, change the appearance, and / or improve body odor, or to protect or maintain the body. Contamination is defined as something that goes into a product by accident during processing or storage and/or is in the raw materials (Article 1(2)).