ASEAN

Vietnam

Major Regulatory Shift in Vietnam’s Cosmetic Advertising: Repeal of Old Regulations Marks the Beginning of a New Chapter!

On February 12, 2026, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam issued Circular No. 03/2026/TT-BYT, a document that has sent ripples through the Vietnamese cosmetic industry. The core content of this Circular is the repeal of several previously issued legal normative documents, resulting in fundamental changes to the regulations governing the management of cosmetic advertising. Summary: Pursuant to this Circular, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam has abolished the specific management regulations regarding the confirmation of cosmetic advertising content previously set forth in Circular No. 09/2015/TT-BYT. While existing certificates may still be used during the transitional period, any new regulatory frameworks or requirements must adhere to other valid regulations issued subsequently. Have Questions?

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Malaysia

Multiple Ingredients Banned or Restricted: Urgent Formula Adjustments Required for Cosmetics Exporting to Malaysia

On January 19, 2026, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of Malaysia officially issued Circular No. 1/2026, announcing updates to the ingredient lists in Annex II, III, and VII of the Guidelines for Control of Cosmetic Products in Malaysia. These amendments stem from the latest resolutions of the 42nd ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) Meeting, aiming to align national standards with the updated ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD). The update covers three major categories: prohibited substances, restricted substances, and UV filters, setting new compliance benchmarks for cosmetic enterprises. I. Annex II — Two New Prohibited Substances According to the circular, the following ingredients are now listed as Prohibited Substances: Notified products containing these substances must be removed from the market or reformulated within the specified deadlines. II. Annex III — Updated Restricted Substances Two soy isoflavone ingredients have been added to the restricted list with defined maximum allowable concentrations: Ingredient Max Allowable

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