Vietnam government clamps down on cosmetics made from endangered wildlife

By Simon Pitman

- Last updated on GMT

Vietnam government clamps down on cosmetics made from endangered wildlife

Related tags Ho chi minh

Growing demand for herbal and medicinal-based cosmetics has prompted the government’s Ministry of Health to clamp down on the use of ingredients made from rare or endangered wildlife.

Accordingly, the government has issued a list of endangered, precious and rare species that have been used as cosmetics ingredients in the past but are now prohibited.

The extensive list has been established since 1994, in accordance with the government’s membership in the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species, which includes endangered wild flora, together with the Convention on Biodiversity.

Cracking down on illegal trade

Over the years the list of species has grown and the Vietnam government has continued to oversee its implementation in the country, with regular crackdowns on illegal trade.

Although Vietnam has one of the highest biodiversities in the world, it is also home to a growing number of endangered species, including the critically endangered Magnolia grandis. Found in Northern Vietnam, there are only thought to be around 50 examples of this species in existence.

The latest warning to cosmetics companies is part of the Vietnam government’s commitment to preserving the country’s biodiversity and its commitment to the global environment bodies that protect flora and fauna worldwide.

Warning issued by Agency of Drug Administration officers

The warnings are being issued by the Agency of Drug Administration, which is sending officers around the country to ensure that cosmetic products including endangered botanicals are not being traded.

The officers have been particularly busy in key trading posts in Ho Chi Minh, the country's capital, and Hanoi, the country's second largest metropolis, in the North of the country

Demand for such cosmetics products has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in the light of massive economic growth in Vietnam and also in neighbouring China.

Related topics Regulation & Safety

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