Four banned substances added for use in cosmetics

Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Health has announced a ban on four specific antifungal substances in cosmetic products, aligning with regional regulations. The substances, Bifonazole, Clotrimazole, Thiabendazole, and Tioconazole, are now prohibited from consideration and acceptance in cosmetic product registration dossiers.

This directive follows a communication from the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health. The ministry's order was based on conclusions from the 43rd meeting of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) and the ASEAN Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB). These bodies decided to add the four substances to Annex II of the ASEAN cosmetic regulations, which lists prohibited ingredients. The ban is effective from April 29, 2026.

The substances in question are active antifungal ingredients typically used in medical treatments. Under both ASEAN and Vietnamese regulations governing cosmetics, these ingredients are forbidden in cosmetic products because of their therapeutic properties. They are classified and managed as pharmaceutical drugs, not cosmetic components.

The Department of Health is urging cosmetic manufacturers and businesses to proactively review their product formulations. They must ensure that all products manufactured, imported, distributed, or registered comply with current regulations. This action comes amid a recent increase in notifications from the Ministry of Health and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health regarding the recall of substandard or banned-ingredient-containing cosmetic products.

According to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, approximately 1,760 substances are currently banned in cosmetics to safeguard consumer health. Common banned ingredients frequently detected by regulatory bodies include mercury and its compounds, hydroquinone (a skin-lightening agent), tretinoin (a dermatological treatment derived from Vitamin A), corticosteroids like dexamethasone and betamethasone, and certain antibiotics, hormones, and active pharmaceutical ingredients.