The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) will strengthen safety regulations to prevent consumer harm in response to the growing trend of direct overseas purchases of cosmetics through international online platforms. (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — In response to the growing trend of direct overseas purchases of cosmetics through international online platforms, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on Monday, that it will strengthen safety regulations to prevent consumer harm.
This initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Korea Customs Service, the Korea Consumer Agency, and local governments.
The MFDS plans to significantly expand the scale of cosmetic product inspections from 110 cases in 2024 to 1,080 cases in 2025.
This drastic increase comes after numerous violations of safety standards for heavy metals such as lead, nickel, and antimony were detected last year in color cosmetics and eye makeup products purchased from platforms like AliExpress and Temu.
Priority inspections will focus on similar product categories in 2025. If products are found to pose safety risks, the MFDS will work with international e-commerce platforms and the Korea Communications Standards Commission to block sales of these products and request customs authorities to prohibit their import.
In collaboration with the Korea Customs Service and the Korea Consumer Agency, the MFDS will use the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) to select products for inspection based on ingredient analysis and safety information.
Inspection plans and results from various government agencies and local authorities will also be integrated into a unified management system as part of the national cosmetics manufacturing and distribution management plan.
Additionally, the MFDS will consolidate and publicly share safety information on hazardous overseas cosmetics—including product names, test results, and product images—through its official platform, “Drug Safety Korea.” The agency will also provide guidelines to inform consumers about precautions when purchasing cosmetics through international online platforms.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
