Selling in South Korea?

Cosmetic tested on animals or made with an animal-tested raw material may not be distributed or sold

Banned

• Tested on animals
• Your role: Manufacturer or Importer

Depends on: animal testing conducted, economic operator role

In force since 4 Feb 2017

Applies to products sold on or after 4 Feb 2017

Computed from the stated rule: 부칙 제14027호 (promulgated 2016-02-03) 제1조 says the Act applies one year after promulgation, i.e. from 2017-02-04; 제2조 applies 제15조의2 to animal testing after that date. For 맞춤형화장품판매업자 the provision applies from the commencement of 부칙 제18448호 제3조 (2021 Act).

Dividing contents of a cosmetic container for sale

Banned

• Mixed or filled for the individual customer: no

Depends on: customised cosmetic

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Mixing or dividing marketed cosmetics at the customised seller

Banned

• Mixed or filled for the individual customer

Depends on: customised cosmetic

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Banned

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Cosmetic that mimics the shape, smell, colour, size or packaging of food so it may be mistaken for food

Banned

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Banned

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Sale of cosmetics made or imported by an unregistered person

Banned

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Labelling or advertising that may be mistaken for a medicine

Banned

• Claim: drug like

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Non-functional cosmetic labelled as functional, or claims differing from the review result

Banned

• Claim: functional cosmetic
• Makes a functional or quasi-drug claim (for example whitening or anti-wrinkle): no

Depends on: quasi drug or functional claim

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Functional cosmetic sold without review or report

Banned

• Makes a functional or quasi-drug claim (for example whitening or anti-wrinkle)

Depends on: quasi drug or functional claim

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Per-product safety data for cosmetics marketed for infants/children: 어린이 4세 이상 13세 이하 (4 to 13 years)

Declaration required

제품별 안전성 자료 under 제4조의3제1항: (1) product and manufacturing description, (3) proof of efficacy; prepared and kept before marketing as for infants or children (item (2), safety assessment data, applies from 2029-01-01 under 부칙 제21302호 제1조 and is covered by the 제4조의2 rules)

• Intended for children under 12

Depends on: intended for children under 12

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text. Item (2) of 제4조의3제1항 is excluded here because 부칙 제21302호 제1조 starts it on 2029-01-01 (the duty duplicates the 제4조의2 safety-assessment rules); the age bands come from 시행규칙 제10조의2.

Per-product safety data for cosmetics marketed for infants/children: 영유아 3세 이하 (3 years or younger)

Declaration required

제품별 안전성 자료 under 제4조의3제1항: (1) product and manufacturing description, (3) proof of efficacy; prepared and kept before marketing as for infants or children (item (2), safety assessment data, applies from 2029-01-01 under 부칙 제21302호 제1조 and is covered by the 제4조의2 rules)

• Intended for children under 3

Depends on: intended for children under 3

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text. Item (2) of 제4조의3제1항 is excluded here because 부칙 제21302호 제1조 starts it on 2029-01-01 (the duty duplicates the 제4조의2 safety-assessment rules); the age bands come from 시행규칙 제10조의2.

Substantiation of factual labelling and advertising claims

Declaration required

Evidence substantiating factual claims in labelling and advertising, submitted to the MFDS within 15 days of request

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Safety assessment data for each product reviewed by a 안전성 평가자 before distribution

Declaration required

화장품 안전성 평가 자료 (product safety data reviewed by a qualified assessor, kept on file)

Every product in the category

Takes effect 1 Jan 2028

Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2028

Staged date by 부칙 제21302호 (2025-12-30) 제1조제1항제1호가목: sellers with annual production/import of KRW 1 billion or more (or registered after promulgation) selling products newly reviewed or reported as functional cosmetics.

Safety assessment data for each product reviewed by a 안전성 평가자 before distribution

Declaration required

화장품 안전성 평가 자료 (product safety data reviewed by a qualified assessor, kept on file)

Every product in the category

Takes effect 1 Jan 2030

Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2030

Staged date by 부칙 제21302호 (2025-12-30) 제1조제1항제1호나목: sellers with annual production/import of KRW 1 billion or more (or registered after promulgation) launching products first made or imported after promulgation.

Safety assessment data for each product reviewed by a 안전성 평가자 before distribution

Declaration required

화장품 안전성 평가 자료 (product safety data reviewed by a qualified assessor, kept on file)

Every product in the category

Takes effect 1 Jan 2031

Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2031

Staged date by 부칙 제21302호 (2025-12-30) 제1조제1항제1호다목 (other sellers of KRW 1 billion or more) and 제2호 (sellers under KRW 1 billion): 2031-01-01.

Annual list of all ingredients used in customised cosmetics

Notification to MFDS (through the cosmetics trade association)

List of all ingredients used in customised cosmetics, once a year

• Mixed or filled for the individual customer

Depends on: customised cosmetic

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Notify 맞춤형화장품판매업 before selling customised cosmetics

Registration required

맞춤형화장품판매업 신고 (MFDS); 맞춤형화장품조제관리사 employed (제3조의2제2항)

• Mixed or filled for the individual customer

Depends on: customised cosmetic

In force since 14 Mar 2020

Applies to products sold on or after 14 Mar 2020

Computed from the stated rule: 부칙 제15488호 (promulgated 2018-03-13) 제1조 starts the provisions on 맞춤형화장품, its seller and its 조제관리사 two years after promulgation, i.e. 2020-03-14.

Distributed cosmetics must meet the MFDS distribution cosmetics safety management standard (유통화장품 안전관리 기준)

Must meet the conditions of MFDS 유통화장품 안전관리 기준 (화장품법 제8조제8항)

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

No labelling or advertising that is false or likely to deceive or mislead consumers

Must meet the conditions of 화장품법 제13조제1항제4호: no labelling or advertising that is untrue or likely to deceive or mislead consumers

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Must meet the conditions of MFDS notice 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정 annex 2: use criteria; preservatives, colourants and UV filters not listed may not be used

Every product in the category

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Functional cosmetics (기능성화장품) product review or report

Registration required

MFDS 기능성화장품 심사 (safety and efficacy review) or 보고서 (report) per item

• Makes a functional or quasi-drug claim (for example whitening or anti-wrinkle)
• Your role: Manufacturer or Importer

Depends on: quasi drug or functional claim, economic operator role

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Functional cosmetic mark

Label required

The words "기능성화장품" or the MFDS-prescribed functional-cosmetic design

• Makes a functional or quasi-drug claim (for example whitening or anti-wrinkle)
• Net content more than 10 mL

Depends on: quasi drug or functional claim, net content ml

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Report of ingredient list to MFDS before distribution

Notification to MFDS

List of ingredients used in the manufacture, before distribution; production or import results

• Your role: Manufacturer or Importer

Depends on: economic operator role

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.

Recall of hazardous cosmetics on the market

Notification to MFDS

Recall plan reported in advance when recalling cosmetics found to violate the Act and likely to harm public health

• Your role: Manufacturer or Importer

Depends on: economic operator role

In force, start date unknown

In force no later than 2026-10-08 (the date of the version ClaraDB holds); earlier commencement is not stated in the published text.