South Korea Amends Cosmetics Act Enforcement Rule to Strengthen Safety Management of Directly Purchased Overseas Cosmetics

On April 2, 2026, the Korea Cosmetic Association (KCIA) issued an announcement stating that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) partially amended the Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act on March 31, 2026, aiming to further strengthen the safety supervision of directly purchased overseas cosmetics. The amended provisions have entered into force on April 2, 2026.

Key Amendments

1. Public Disclosure of Information on Directly Purchased Overseas Cosmetics (New Articles 28(4) and 28(5))

Information regarding directly purchased overseas cosmetics shall be disclosed through publication on the official MFDS website. The disclosed information includes:

• Product name
• Country of manufacture
• Manufacturer
• Product photograph
• Ingredient information
• Other necessary safety information

2. Inspection and Fact-Finding Investigation Methods for Directly Purchased Overseas Cosmetics (New Articles 30-2 and 30-3)

Inspection (Article 30-2)

The inspection methods for directly purchased overseas cosmetics are classified as follows:

• Confirmatory Inspection: Verification of labeling, indication matters, or information posted on cyber malls and other online platforms
• Analytical Inspection: Physical, chemical, and microbiological testing of directly purchased overseas cosmetics
• Inspections shall be conducted taking into consideration the results of fact-finding investigations.

Fact-Finding Investigation (Article 30-3)

The scope of fact-finding investigations on directly purchased overseas cosmetics includes:

• Demographic Characteristics: Gender, age groups, and other demographic information of purchasers
• Purchase and Usage Patterns: Types of cosmetics purchased, purchase frequency, purchasing motives, usage volume, duration of use
• Hazard Information: Potential hazard information regarding directly purchased overseas cosmetics
• Damage Cases: Consumer damage types, experiences of harm, and other case studies
• Other Necessary Matters: Additional matters deemed necessary by the MFDS Commissioner for policy development

Investigation Methods: Statistical surveys, literature reviews, questionnaire surveys

Regulatory Implications

This amendment further refines the regulatory framework for directly purchased overseas cosmetics, establishing a comprehensive system comprising information disclosure, inspection, and investigation mechanisms. It effectively enhances consumer protection and market standardization, representing an important improvement to Korea's cosmetic regulatory regime.

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.

Our Services

• Korean Cosmetics Product Notification & Registration (General Cosmetics, Functional Cosmetics)
• Standardization of Cosmetic Ingredient Names in Korea
• Korean Cosmetics Label Review
• Quality Inspection

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further information

South Korea KCIA