The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will be introducing tougher regulations for cosmetic products from 1 January 2008 under the Asean Cosmetic Directive (ACD) to promote higher standards of safety and quality.
The ACD is part of an Asean-wide initiative to harmonise standards and requirements for cosmetic products. It was signed in 2003 and is similar to the well-established EU Cosmetic Directive.
Under the Medicines Act, in force since July 1997, all cosmetic products were divided into 2 categories. High risk products such as those used around the eyes and face required registration, while all other low risk products needed no registration.
Now, all cosmetic products, including toothpastes, soaps, shampoos, make-up and perfumes, will be regulated under the Health Products Act instead of the Medicines Act. Companies have to notify HSA of all cosmetic products, regardless of the product category. This will help in creating a database of about 100,000 cosmetic products sold in Singapore.
The ACD also calls for an expanded list of prohibited substances and permitted list of additives and more detailed labelling to include information such as ingredient-related precautions. Consumers will be informed of manufacture and expiry dates, as well as handling precautions.
A regional Asean Post-Marketing Alert System will also be established to exchange information quickly on unsafe products.
The HSA must be informed of all new cosmetic products from 1 January 2008. Cosmetic companies have a year to notify HSA of existing products and until 1 January 2011 to comply with requirements. They will be fined up to S$100,000 and sentenced up to 3 years if their products sold here are found to be adulterated or contain banned chemicals and preservatives.
Sources:
- "Tougher regulations for cosmetics next year", The Straits Times, 22 November 2007
- "Overhaul for cosmetic products regulations", The Business Times, 22 November 2007
