Tighten inspection of domestic cosmetics after discovering they contain toxic active ingredients

The Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) has sent a document to the Department of Health of provinces and cities requesting to strengthen the review, inspection and strict handling of cosmetic products that violate the law, after discovering that some domestically produced cosmetic products contain inappropriate ingredients, even containing active ingredients such as insecticides.

According to the leader of the Drug Administration Department, through post-market inspection and supervision, the authorities have recorded a number of cosmetic products that are not classified properly according to regulations, or contain ingredients that do not conform to the definition of cosmetics according to Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BYT.

Illustration photo.

Notably, some products were found to contain the active ingredient permethrin (CAS: 52645-53-1), a pyrethroid insecticide listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an essential medicine.

This is an active ingredient that kills ticks, bugs and treats parasites. It is absolutely not allowed in cosmetics due to the risk of affecting the health of users.

In addition, some other cosmetic products were found to have uses or instructions that could be easily mistaken for medicines; many sunscreen products also labeled SPF index incorrectly according to regulations, inconsistent with the guidelines of the ASEAN Cosmetics Agreement.

Faced with this situation, the Drug Administration of Vietnam requested local Departments of Health to urgently review all Cosmetic Product Declaration Forms that have been granted reception numbers to ensure compliance with regulations on classification and declaration of features.

At the same time, recall products that are not classified as cosmetics or have misleading or false declarations about their nature and features.

The Departments of Health also need to fully update and disseminate the latest regulations of the ASEAN Cosmetics Council to cosmetic manufacturing and trading enterprises in the area, including the list of banned substances, substances with limited content, preservatives, colorants, and UV filters allowed for use.

The Drug Administration also emphasized the strict handling of organizations and individuals who violate regulations in the announcement, production and trading of cosmetics; recall and destroy all unsafe products, in order to protect the health of consumers and ensure that the cosmetics market operates in accordance with legal regulations.

Regarding cosmetics management, information from the Drug Administration of Vietnam said that the Ministry of Health is soliciting comments on the Draft Decree on cosmetics management, replacing Decree No. 93/2016/ND-CP.

According to the Draft, cosmetic products circulating on the market must ensure that they do not cause harm to human health when used in accordance with instructions, label information, and dosage form. The owner or manufacturer must assess the safety of each product according to the ASEAN Cosmetic Safety Assessment Guidelines.

In addition, cosmetics must meet the requirements for limits on heavy metals, microorganisms and trace impurities as prescribed in the updated appendices from the ASEAN Cosmetic Council (ACC). The Ministry of Health will also publicize the list of ingredients that are banned or have limited concentrations, contents and scope of use for businesses and localities to be aware of.

A notable new point in the Draft is that cosmetic businesses are fully responsible for the content of product advertisements, without having to carry out confirmation procedures with the management agency. However, the advertising content must be consistent with the nature of the product, true to the declared uses, and not misleading as a medicine or capable of treating diseases.

The Ministry of Health proposes to absolutely prohibit acts that take advantage of the reputation of the health sector, such as using images, names, articles, and uniforms of doctors, pharmacists, medical staff, or medical facilities for advertising. At the same time, it strictly prohibits the use of misleading language, exaggerating the effects, or making absolute assertions.

In addition to advertising content, the Ministry of Health clearly stipulates the conditions for granting certificates of eligibility for cosmetic production.

The manufacturing facility must have a team of personnel trained in CGMP (ASEAN Cosmetic Good Manufacturing Practices), with sufficient experience; suitable factory, equipment and quality management system. The person in charge of production and quality must have a relevant university degree, work full-time and have at least 2 years of experience.

The draft Decree, when completed and promulgated, will create a transparent and modern legal corridor, approaching regional standards, contributing to protecting consumer health, improving advertising activities, and improving the quality of the cosmetics market in Vietnam.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/siet-kiem-tra-my-pham-trong-nuoc-sau-phat-hien-chua-hoat-chat-doc-hai-d350345.html