Cosmetics Management to Meet International Standards from August 18
Starting August 18, 2025, under Circular 34/2025/TT-BYT issued by the Ministry of Health, every cosmetic product entering the Vietnamese market must have a separate product announcement form.
The new regulation requires that all ingredients in the announcement form be fully listed in descending order of concentration, using the internationally recognized INCI nomenclature, as endorsed by ASEAN. This measure aims to prevent ingredient concealment, reduce toxicity risks, and align with international supply chain standards.
Mr. Trần Văn Dũng, a cosmetics quality standards expert, stated, “The new regulation compels Vietnamese businesses to take R&D and ingredient traceability more seriously. In the long term, this will help the Vietnamese cosmetics industry align more closely with international standards, facilitating export opportunities.”
The circular specifies that ingredients below 1% may be listed in any order after those above 1%, with colorants indicated under “+/-”. Importantly, the percentages of restricted ingredients listed in ASEAN annexes must be fully disclosed. The primary goal is to protect consumers, addressing issues with “hand-carried,” “handmade,” or ambiguously branded products (e.g., Korean, Japanese, or French) that lack clear origins or ingredient details. Businesses are now required to trace and take responsibility for every ingredient used.
Notably, impurities, solvents, or carriers not present in the final product will not be considered ingredients, preventing misleading disclosures. This unified product announcement process not only enhances transparency but also serves as a critical standardization step for Vietnam’s rapidly growing cosmetics industry.
According to the Drug Administration of Vietnam, from 2026, product announcement data will be linked with barcodes and blockchain technology to certify ingredient origins, further improving traceability and transparency.
