South Korea's Inadequate Cosmetics Regulation Leads to $57 Million of Harmful Products in Market
According to an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's (MFDS) poor management has led to a significant circulation of cosmetics containing harmful ingredients in the market. The audit, focusing on the MFDS's food and cosmetics management tasks from 2019 to last year, found that the recall rate of hazardous food products was only 17.7% in the previous year.Notably, over the past three years, 108 out of 1,055 cases of food products contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides did not have their barcode information transmitted to stores, leading to their omission from sales blocking targets. Additionally, 14 cases were not publicly disclosed, posing a risk to consumers. The report criticized the MFDS's cosmetics management, highlighting that risk assessment reports for ingredients like henna were not prepared for over four and a half years, resulting in about 2,900 harmful cosmetics products (worth approximately 57 million USD) being distributed in the market.
The MFDS also faced criticism for inadequate post-reporting management of cosmetics ingredients. Despite 45 companies reporting the use of banned or restricted substances in the manufacture of 85 cosmetics products from 2019 to 2021, the MFDS failed to take appropriate actions like onsite investigations or demands for explanations. The audit highlighted the safety management issue of eyelash perm drugs, which the MFDS had neglected despite concerns raised by the Korea Consumer Agency in 2020 and last year. In response, the MFDS plans to classify eyelash perm drugs as 'eye makeup products' and revise related laws.
The Board of Audit and Inspection has urged the MFDS to take heed of the audit results and discipline officials responsible for the inadequate post-evaluation measures of cosmetic hazards.
South Korea and France Lead Global Cosmetics Market with New Collaboration
South Korea and France have embarked on a collaboration to lead the global cosmetics market. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the signing of an agreement to enhance cooperation in the cosmetics sector between Minister Lee Young and Marc-Antoine Jamet, Chairman of Cosmetic Valley, at the 'K-Global Cluster 2023' event held in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.Cosmetic Valley, established in 1994, is the world's first and largest beauty industry cluster, comprising over 100 global and small-medium enterprises, including LVMH, L'Oréal, and Guerlain. The cluster operates an extensive network for research and development in all areas of cosmetics, from raw material development to production and distribution. Under the agreement, South Korea and France will jointly operate programs for mutual collaboration of distribution platforms to support the global expansion of startups and SMEs. They will also jointly research and develop innovative materials for functional cosmetics and efficient production processes for small batch manufacturing.
Korean SMEs and small businesses will receive training in France, and both countries will run a global open innovation program between startups and large corporations. Minister Lee Young expressed that this collaboration goes beyond business outcomes, enhancing mutual understanding and cultural exchange, making the world healthier and more beautiful. Korean lawmaker Han Mu-kyung also noted that this cooperation would provide significant opportunities for cosmetics SMEs in both countries.
The conference, held after the signing ceremony, focused on strengthening cooperation in the cosmetics sector between South Korea and France, two cultural and technological powerhouses in Asia and Europe. Christoph Marton, CEO of Cosmetic Valley, introduced France's cosmetics innovation ecosystem, while Yoo Yang-hee, CEO of Elroel, presented the current and future state of K-Beauty. The panel discussion generated various opinions and ideas for cooperation between the two countries.
AmorePacific Achieves International Certification for Camellia-Based Cosmetic Ingredients
AmorePacific, a leading South Korean cosmetics company, announced its achievement in obtaining international certification for cosmetic ingredients derived from camellias. The ingredients that received the organic and natural cosmetics standard component certification through COSMOS met high global standards, satisfying principles of biodiversity respect and eco-friendly processing methods. The certified ingredients include Red Flavonoid, developed in collaboration with KAIST, the skin-boosting material Agerefect, and Camellia Roxil, which has hair loss alleviating properties. These ingredients have been proven effective in controlling skin aging, reducing pores, and hair care.CTO and head of AmorePacific's R&I Center, Seo Byung-hwi, stated that this approval signifies the company's continuous research efforts and commitment to leading the clean beauty trend. Additionally, AmorePacific has also obtained a green certification in June for its technology in reducing carbon emissions during manufacturing, called 'Camellia Meal Upcycling Multi-Purpose Skin Functional New Material Production Technology.'
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