East Asia · South Korea
What does it take to sell cosmetics in South Korea? Entry route, responsibility, labeling
No pre-market approval for general cosmetics (the registered responsible seller reports p…; Responsible person: A Korea-registered 화장품책임판매업자 (cosmetic responsible seller) …; Labeling: Korean-language label with full ingredient list (….
Latest change 2026-07-08 — MFDS issued draft amendments to the Cosmetics Act Enforcement Decree and Rule setting detailed safety-assessment standards (assessor qualifications, record retention) and custom-cosmetics rules, implementing Act No. 21302 whose mandatory safety assessment phases in from 2028. Source
Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.
- Authority
- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)
- Main regulation
- Act No. 6025 (enacted 1999-09-07); latest amendment Act No. 21302 (2025-12-30) · Cosmetics Act
- In force
- 2000-07-01
- Market entry
- No pre-market approval for general cosmetics (the registered responsible seller reports production/import), while 기능성화장품 (functional cosmetics: whitening, anti-wrinkle, UV, hair etc.) need MFDS review or report before sale.
- Responsible person
- A Korea-registered 화장품책임판매업자 (cosmetic responsible seller) must register with MFDS, hold the product records and appear on the label.
- Safety file
- Currently product safety/efficacy data are kept by the responsible seller; Act No. 21302 (promulgated 2025-12-30) requires a safety assessment prepared and reviewed by a qualified assessor before marketing, with MFDS guidelines issued 2026-06-10 and phased mandatory application from 2028 (full by about 2031).
- Labeling
- Korean-language label with full ingredient list (전성분표시); 25 fragrance allergens must be named when above 0.01% in rinse-off or 0.001% in leave-on products (since 2020-01-01); the 2025-02-07 Enforcement Rule amendment revised how manufacturing number, expiry date, period-after-opening and precautions are shown.
- Animal testing
- Sale of cosmetics tested on animals (finished products or ingredients) has been banned since 2017-02 under Art. 15-2, with limited exceptions such as tests required by foreign law.
- Ingredient lists
- 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정 (MFDS Notification: Annex 1 prohibited ingredients, Annex 2 restricted ingredients incl. preservatives, UV filters and colorants) plus the functional-cosmetics standards.
- Notes
- Exact effective dates of individual Act No. 21302 provisions were not verified from the statute text (ChemLinked gives a 2028 phase-in); a 2026-03-31 Enforcement Rule amendment also tightened supervision of directly-purchased overseas cosmetics.
- Look up this inventory here
- 韩国 · Regulation on Safety Standards for Cosmetics
- Official text
- https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%ED%99%94%EC%9E%A5%ED%92%88%EB%B2%95
Changes 2025–2026
- Korea enacts a mandatory cosmetic safety assessment system (Act No. 21302)
Responsible sellers must prepare and retain a safety assessment reviewed by a qualified assessor before marketing; MFDS issued preparation guidelines on 2026-06-10 and draft Decree/Rule amendments on 2026-07-08, with phased application from 2028 and full enforcement around 2031. Source
- Korea amends cosmetic packaging labelling rules
MFDS amended the Cosmetics Act Enforcement Rule (Annex 4) with immediate effect, revising how the manufacturing number, expiry date, period-after-opening and precautions must appear on all cosmetics made or imported after that date. Source
FAQ
Does South Korea require notification or registration before sale?
No pre-market approval for general cosmetics (the registered responsible seller reports production/import), while 기능성화장품 (functional cosmetics: whitening, anti-wrinkle, UV, hair etc.) need MFDS review or report before sale.
Is a local responsible person mandatory in South Korea?
A Korea-registered 화장품책임판매업자 (cosmetic responsible seller) must register with MFDS, hold the product records and appear on the label.
What are the labeling requirements in South Korea?
Korean-language label with full ingredient list (전성분표시); 25 fragrance allergens must be named when above 0.01% in rinse-off or 0.001% in leave-on products (since 2020-01-01); the 2025-02-07 Enforcement Rule amendment revised how manufacturing number, expiry date, period-after-opening and precautions are shown.
What changed recently in South Korea cosmetic regulation?
2026-07-08 MFDS issued draft amendments to the Cosmetics Act Enforcement Decree and Rule setting detailed safety-assessment standards (assessor qualifications, record retention) and custom-cosmetics rules, implementing Act No. 21302 whose mandatory safety assessment phases in from 2028.
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