Công văn 6577/QLD-MP

On the deployment of substances used in cosmetic products specified by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Drug administration of Vietnam hereby issues the notification to unify the management as follows:

1. Drug administration of Vietnam has posted the Annexes about the substances used in cosmetic products (the latest update) and the Report of the 21^st Meeting of the ASEAN Cosmetic Committee on the website of Drug administration of Vietnam (www.dav.gov.vn, section Cosmetic management). The Annexes include the List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products (Annex II), List of substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to restrictions and conditions laid down (Annex III), List of coloring agents allowed for use in cosmetic products (Annex IV), List of preservatives which cosmetic products may contain (Annex V) and List of UV filters which cosmetic products may contain (Annex VI)

Where, a number of substances used in cosmetic products are specified as follows:

- Butylparaben and its salts Propylparaben and its salts (heading 12a Annex V) may be used separately with concentrations not exceeding 0.14% (as acid) and mixtures of paraben with total concentrations not exceeding 0.8% (as acid).

Deadline for regulations applicable to Butylparaben and its salts, Propylparaben and its salts (heading 12a Annex V) mentioned above: Deadline for announcement of products that are newly produced in Vietnam or imported to Vietnam is 31/12/2015; Domestic or imported products shall be sold on market not longer than 30/6/2016.

- 05 types of paraben (Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenylparaben, Benzylparaben and Pentylparaben) are added to Annex II (List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products).

Deadline for the regulations applicable to 05 types of paraben (Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenylparaben, Benzylparaben and Pentylparaben) mentioned above: The domestic or imported products containing such components shall be sold on market not longer than 30/7/2015.

- The preservatives like Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and the mixtures of Methylchlorothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCT + MIT) (heading 39 and 57 Annex V): Mixtures MCT + MIT in the ratio 3:1 shall be used only in rinse-off products with concentrates not exceeding 0.0015%; Mixtures MCT + MIT in the ratio 3:1 with additional MIT shall not be contained in cosmetic products.

Deadline for regulations applicable to Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and the mixtures of Methylchlorothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCT + MIT) (heading 39 and 57 Annex V) mentioned above: Deadline for announcement of products that are newly produced in Vietnam or imported to Vietnam is 01/7/2015; Domestic or imported products shall be sold on market not longer than 30/4/2016.

2. The Department of Health of central-affiliated cities and provinces shall disseminate these provisions above to enterprises in local areas for implementing.

3. Enterprises shall conduct inspections of the compositions of cosmetic products, update the relevant lists to ensure that only safe and conformable products are sold and used.

Drug administration of Vietnam shall issue announcement enabling the relevant units to acknowledge and comply with./.