South Korea Adds 18 New Cosmetic Ingredient Analytical Methods; Triclosan & Zinc Pyrithione Tests Revised

On April 21, 2026, South Korea's National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) released a draft revision of the "Guidelines for Analytical Methods for Cosmetic Usage Limit Ingredients (Citizen Guide)" through the Korea Cosmetic Association (KCIA) for public comment. The public comment period closed on April 24, 2026. The revision adds 18 new analytical methods and improves existing methods for triclosan and zinc pyrithione.

Background

The guidelines are prepared by NIFDS's Cosmetics Research Division to provide analytical method references for cosmetic manufacturers, responsible sellers, and testing institutions. Since its initial establishment in 2008, the guidelines have undergone multiple revisions. The last revision was in July 2023, which improved analytical methods for 43 ingredients and added calculation formulas. The current revision is scheduled for publication in May 2026, pursuant to Articles 8 and 15 of the Cosmetics Act.

Key Revisions

1. New Preservative Analytical Methods (13 ingredients)

No.	English Name for the Ingredient	CAS No.	Usage Limit
1	Benzethonium chloride	121-54-0	0.1% (prohibited in mucosal products)
2	2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol	1777-82-8	0.15%
3	Chlorophene	120-32-1	0.05%
4	p-Chloro-m-cresol	59-50-7	0.04% (prohibited in mucosal products)
5	Bronopol	52-51-7	0.1% (prohibited in amine-containing products)
6	Formic acid	64-18-6	0.5%
7	Glutaraldehyde	111-30-8	0.1% (prohibited in aerosol products)
8	Bromochlorophene	15435-29-7	0.1%
9	Undecylenic acid	112-38-9	0.2% (rinse-off products, as acid)
10	Phenoxyisopropanol	770-35-4	1.0% (rinse-off products)
11	3,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol	1805-32-9	0.15%
12	Isopropylmethylphenol	3228-02-2	0.1%
13	Tetrabromo-o-cresol	576-55-6	0.3%

2. New "Other Ingredients" Analytical Methods (5 ingredients)

No.	English Name for the Ingredient	CAS No.	Usage Limit
1	2,4-Diamino-pyrimidine-3-oxide	74638-76-9	1.5% (hair products only)
2	Chloramine T	127-65-1	0.2%
3	Salicylic acid	69-72-7	2%–3% (specific products)
4	Methyl 2-octynoate	111-12-6	0.01%
5	Methyl octine carbonate	111-80-8	0.002%

3. Improved Existing Methods (2 ingredients)

No.	English Name for the Ingredient	CAS No.	Category	Changes
1	Triclosan	3380-34-5	Preservative	Method optimized
2	Zinc pyrithione	13463-41-7	Other	Method optimized

Guideline Overview

The revised guideline comprises 184 pages. Each ingredient's analytical method includes molecular formula, molecular weight, structural formula, CAS number, usage limit, test procedures (sample preparation, standard solution preparation, instrument conditions), chromatograms and spectra, calculation formulas, and references. Primary analytical techniques include HPLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS.

Timeline

April 21, 2026 — KCIA publishes draft revision for public comment

April 24, 2026 — Public comment deadline

May 2026 — Scheduled formal publication

Implications and Recommendations

The revision expands the coverage of analytical testing methods for cosmetic usage limit ingredients in South Korea, with newly added ingredients covering a variety of commonly used preservatives and other functional ingredients. Cosmetic companies are advised to monitor regulatory changes promptly, review the analytical method requirements for the 18 newly added ingredients, and note the changes to triclosan and zinc pyrithione testing methods, which may affect compliance test results for existing products.

About CIRS

The CIRS cosmetic team is dedicated to ensuring that cosmetic products meet stringent global regulatory standards. We are able to provide one-stop services covering the whole life-cycle of a personal care product, which includes cosmetic ingredient development, physical/chemical tests, toxicological tests (in vivo & in vitro), efficacy studies (in vivo & in vitro), ingredient registration, and product registration.

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Further Information

South Korea KCIA

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