Export compliance | Thai Ministry of Health proposes significant revision of cosmetics ingredient list
Thailand's Ministry of Public Health Proposes Significant Revisions to Cosmetic Ingredient List
Nine Draft Announcements Released, Proposing 19 Additions, 4 Revisions, and 2 Deletions
With the rapid growth of the global cosmetics industry, Thailand, as a key cosmetics market in Southeast Asia, has recently announced major changes to its cosmetic regulations.
Thailand has joined the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and prepared the ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme (AHCRS) agreement to harmonize cosmetic laws among ASEAN member states, aiming to reduce non-tariff barriers (NTBs). This ensures that all "cosmetics" are safe, meet standardized quality, and benefit consumers. The ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) has been established, and the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) has been finalized.
In line with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD), the list of cosmetic substances has been updated. As an ASEAN member, Thailand has also synchronized its regulations accordingly.
To strengthen oversight of the cosmetics market, protect consumer rights, and promote a healthy and safe industry, the Thai government has made targeted adjustments to the current list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients. The new regulations aim to address rapidly changing market demands and enhance consumer health and safety protections.
As a result, Thailand has revised relevant legislation based on the latest market conditions to ensure effective management of emerging cosmetic ingredients. The primary goal of this revision is to update and expand the cosmetic ingredient list for better market regulation.
To this end, the relevant authorities drafted the following nine documents (drafts) from March 2024 to January 2025:
Draft Ministry of Public Health Announcement — List of Ingredients Prohibited in Cosmetic Production (No. ...):
Adds substances numbered 1676 to 1685 to the appendix of the Announcement on the Names of Substances Prohibited in Cosmetic Production issued by the Thai Ministry of Public Health on May 24, 2023.
| No. | Substance Prohibited in Cosmetic Production | CAS No. |
|---|
| 1676 | 2-Chloroacetamide | 79-07-2 |
| 1677 | Acetaldehyde; ethanal | 75-07-0 |
| 1678 | N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone; 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone | 872-50-4 |
| 1679 | 2-Ethylhexyl-2-ethylhexanoate | 7425-14-1 |
| 1680 | Petroleum, coal, tar, natural gas, and their derivatives (if benzene content ≥0.1% w/w) | See original document |
| 1681 | N-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone; 1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-one | 2687-91-4 |
| 1682 | Vinyl acetate | 108-05-4 |
| 1683 | Styrene | 100-42-5 |
| 1684 | Tetrahydro-2-furylmethanol; tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol | 97-99-4 |
| 1685 | Chlorophene; 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol | 120-32-1 |
Draft Ministry of Public Health Announcement — Names, Concentrations, and Usage Conditions of Substances Permitted in Cosmetic Production:
Repeals entry No. 10 in the appendix of the Announcement on the Names, Concentrations, and Usage Conditions of Substances Permitted in Cosmetic Production issued by the Thai Ministry of Public Health on April 29, 2018, and replaces it with the following:
| No. | Substance Name and Conditions | Application Area | Max. Concentration (w/w) | Remarks | CAS No. |
|---|
| 10 | Hydrogen peroxide and other compounds or mixtures releasing hydrogen peroxide (including carbamide peroxide and zinc peroxide, excluding: 1) Sodium perborate; 2) Sodium perborate monohydrate; 3) Sodium perborate tetrahydrate) | Hair, eyebrows, beard (excluding eyelashes) | 12% | Calculated as released H₂O₂ | 7722-84-1 |
|
| Skin | 4% | Calculated as released H₂O₂ | - |
|
| Nails (nail hardening products) | 2% | Calculated as released H₂O₂ | - |
|
| Oral care products | 0.1% | Calculated as released H₂O₂ | - |
|
| Teeth whitening products (provided by dentists for home use) | 6% | Sold only by dentists, not directly to consumers | - |
Adds entry No. 213 to the appendix:
| No. | Substance Name (Silver zinc aluminosilicate) | Application Area | Max. Concentration (w/w) | Remarks | CAS No. |
|---|
| 213 | Silver zinc zeolite | Powder foundation | 1% | - | 130328-20-0 |
|
| Antiperspirant products | 1% | - | - |
Announcement Date: December 2024
Draft Announcement by the Thai Cosmetic Committee — Labeling Requirements for Teeth Whitening Cosmetics Containing Hydrogen Peroxide:
"Teeth whitening cosmetics containing hydrogen peroxide" refer to products provided by dentists for home use, complying with the Announcement on the Names, Concentrations, and Usage Conditions of Substances Permitted in Cosmetic Production. All registered products must clearly label the hydrogen peroxide concentration on their packaging.
Draft Ministry of Public Health Announcement — Names, Concentrations, and Usage Conditions of Substances Permitted in Cosmetic Production (No. ...):
Adds entry No. 214 to the appendix:
| No. | Substance Name (Methyl-N-methylanthranilate) | Application Area | Max. Concentration (w/w) | Remarks | CAS No. |
|---|
| 214 |
| Leave-on cosmetics | 0.1% | 1. Prohibited in products exposed to natural or artificial UV (e.g., sunscreens, tanning products);
2. Prohibited with nitrosating agents;
3. Total nitrosamine contamination ≤50 µg/kg;
4. Containers must be nitrite-free. | 85-91-6 |
|
| Rinse-off cosmetics | 0.2% | 1. Prohibited with nitrosating agents;
2. Total nitrosamine contamination ≤50 µg/kg;
3. Containers must be nitrite-free. | - |
Manufacturers, importers, and OEMs of products containing the above substance (No. 214) must ensure compliance within 180 days of the announcement's effective date.
Announcement Date: March 2024
Draft Announcement by the Thai Cosmetic Committee — Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics Containing Specific Substances (No. ...):
Adds entry No. 214 to the Announcement on Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics Containing Specific Substances issued on April 3, 2018, as amended on December 20, 2024.
| No. | Substance Name (Methyl-N-methylanthranilate) | Application Area | Usage Type | Label Warning | CAS No. |
|---|
| 214 |
| - | Leave-on cosmetics | - | 85-91-6 |
|
| - | Rinse-off cosmetics | - | - |
Announcement Date: December 2024
Draft Ministry of Public Health Announcement — Preservatives Permitted in Cosmetic Production (No. ...):
Repeals entries No. 37 (2-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol) and No. 38 (2-Chloroacetamide) from the Announcement on Preservatives Permitted in Cosmetic Production issued on September 18, 2018. Replaces entry No. 48 with:
| No. | Substance Name (Sodium hydroxymethyl amino acetate) | Max. Concentration (w/w) | Remarks (Free formaldehyde release must be <0.1% w/w) | CAS No. |
|---|
| 48 |
| 0.5% |
| 70161-44-3 |
Compliance required within 180 days of the announcement's effective date.
Announcement Date: March 2024
Draft Announcement by the Thai Cosmetic Committee — Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics Containing Preservatives (No. ...):
Repeals entries No. 37 (2-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol) and No. 38 (2-Chloroacetamide) from the Announcement on Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics Containing Preservatives issued on September 24, 2018.
Announcement Date: December 2024
Draft Ministry of Public Health Announcement — UV Filters Permitted in Cosmetic Production (No. ...):
Replaces entry No. 8 in the Announcement on UV Filters Permitted in Cosmetic Production issued on February 18, 2019:
| No. | Substance Name (Octocrylene) | Max. Concentration (w/w) | Remarks (For aerosol sunscreens) | CAS No. |
|---|
| 8 | 2-Cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester | 9% |
| 6197-30-4 |
| (Synonym: Octocrylene) | 10% | For other sunscreen types | - |
Compliance required within 180 days of the announcement's effective date.
Announcement Date: March 2024
Draft Ministry of Public Health Announcement — Names of Substances Prohibited in Cosmetic Production (No. ...):
Replaces entry No. 46 in the Announcement on Names of Substances Prohibited in Cosmetic Production issued on May 24, 2023:
| No. | Substance Prohibited (Barium salts and Barium peroxide, excluding Barium sulfate and other approved substances) | CAS No. |
|---|
| 46 |
| 7440-39-3 / 10361-37-2 / etc. |
Adds entries No. 1669 to 1675:
| No. | Substance Prohibited | CAS No. |
|---|
| 1669 | Nickel diarsenide; Nickel arsenide | 12068-61-0 / 27016-75-7 |
| 1670 | Various nickel compounds | See full list |
| 1671 | Nickel(II) sulfite and other nickel compounds | See full list |
| 1672 | Nickel boride and related compounds | See full list |
| 1673 | Aluminum nickel oxide; Nickel titanium oxide | See full list |
| 1674 | Quinoline | 91-22-5 |
| 1675 | Imidazole | 288-32-4 |
Announcement Date: January 2025
The proposed revisions to the cosmetic ingredient list by Thailand's Ministry of Public Health and the Cosmetic Committee aim to enhance market oversight, protect consumer rights, and promote a healthy and safe industry. The new regulations reflect responsiveness to market changes and strengthen consumer health and safety protections.
