Taiwan to revise cosmetics statute following major inspection

The report into 697 products last June tested for banned substances including formaldehyde, methylene chloride, lead, mercury and toluene in products, including cosmetics.

Of those, 43 items were found to be 'incorrectly labelled', three of which were widely-used cosmetics.

Brand names were not revealed, just that the products were nail accessories, aromatic oils and lipsticks.

Taiwan's Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act has already been revised. Additionally, it moved to strengthen the management of Class 4 toxic chemical substances, new requirements which have required the industry to comply with since December 11th 2014. 

The core of the revised TCSCA is a registration scheme which requires manufacturers and importers to register their new and existing chemical substances prior to entering Taiwan’s market, however the industry has had problems with registrating harmonisation between EPA and MoL rules.

According to Chemical Watch, most foreign companies “have no major problems” with the final version of the registration rules. However, the American Chamber of Commerce government did report issues with harmonisation.

Taiwan FDA cracking down on regulations​

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration recently announced that coal tar will be banned in cosmetics from January.

Coal tar is believed to reduce itchiness, and so is often used in skin products marketed to people suffering from various skin conditions, including eczema.

However, the Taiwanese governmental body has stated that it has introduced the ban in response to fears that the use of products containing coal tar for a long period of time may cause cancer.

Any cosmetic product containing the ingredient will no longer be able to be imported, made, sold, or provided to the public in Taiwan from the start of the coming year.

The move brings the country in line with the European Union and many south eastern Asian countries, which have already banned the use of coal tar in cosmetics, with the US allowing the ingredient only in select doctor-prescribed medicines.