JAKARTA  – South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) hosted an international webinar on cosmetic regulations Thursday, September 4, 2025, bringing together participants from multiple countries, including representatives from Indonesia’s cosmetics industry. The event aimed to introduce South Korea’s legal framework, safety standards, and regulatory systems governing cosmetic products. Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) participated as a key speaker, presenting the country’s cosmetic oversight mechanisms.

Two-Session Format Features Expert Perspectives

The webinar was structured into two comprehensive sessions featuring multiple expert speakers. Session one opened with Shin Jae-seop, Special Staff of the Cosmetic Policy Division at MFDS, who outlined Korea’s cosmetic legal framework.

“In Korea, cosmetics are defined as products used for cleansing, beautifying, or maintaining skin and hair health with mild effects on the body,” Shin explained. He highlighted differences in cosmetic definitions across jurisdictions: “The United States excludes soap from the cosmetic category. However, in Korea, soap continues to be managed as a cosmetic product.”

The second presenter, Yoon So-mi, a researcher in the Cosmetic Evaluation Division, stressed the importance of safety and efficacy testing for functional cosmetic products. “Functional cosmetics include whitening products, anti-wrinkle treatments, sunscreens, acne care, and hair loss treatments. All must undergo scientific testing, including human clinical trials using internationally standardized methods,” she stated.

Yoon further clarified that certain ingredients have proven safety records in functional cosmetics. “When a product contains niacinamide as a whitening agent or retinol as an anti-wrinkle component at specified concentrations, manufacturers are not required to submit certain supporting documentation,” she explained.

The first session concluded with Han Ji-hye from MFDS’s Cosmetic Policy Division, who addressed raw material safety standards. “Since 2012, Korea transitioned from a positive list system to a negative list approach. This means all ingredients are permitted except those explicitly prohibited or restricted,” Han noted.

She elaborated: “Currently, over one thousand ingredients are banned, and hundreds of others are only permitted within specific limits, including preservatives, sunscreens, colorants, and hair straighteners.” Han emphasized consumer safety priorities: “We regulate limits for heavy metal contamination, formaldehyde, and microorganisms in cosmetic products to protect public health.”

Indonesia’s Rapidly Expanding Cosmetics Market

Session two shifted focus to Indonesia’s thriving cosmetics sector. Mohamad Kashuri, Deputy for Traditional Medicine, Health Supplements, and Cosmetics Supervision (Deputy 2) at BPOM, delivered insights on Indonesia’s market dynamics.

Kashuri reported that Indonesia’s national cosmetics market value is projected to reach US$9.74 billion in 2025, surging beyond US$12 billion by 2030. “Increasing beauty consciousness among consumers, youth demographic dominance, local brand expansion, and the robust halal cosmetics market are driving this growth,” he stated.

However, Kashuri cautioned that significant opportunities bring regulatory challenges. “Rapid industry growth demands rigorous oversight of safety and quality standards amid an evolving product landscape,” he explained. He identified several industry challenges: swift product innovation with short lifecycles, emergence of new product categories like multifunctional and natural-ingredient cosmetics, and a simplified notification system that poses risks without strong industry compliance.

Indonesia’s Cosmetic Classification and Registration Framework

Dian Putri Anggraweni, Director of Traditional Medicine, Health Supplements, and Cosmetics Standardization at BPOM, clarified Indonesia’s cosmetic classification boundaries. “If a product is presented for treating or preventing disease or possesses pharmacological or immunological functions, it cannot be classified as a cosmetic,” she stated firmly.

Since ASEAN Harmonization on January 1, 2011, Indonesia’s cosmetic distribution scheme shifted from registration to notification. Consequently, greater responsibility falls on companies to ensure their marketed products meet safety and quality standards.

“The number of cosmetic products entering notification increases annually. Cosmetics may only be marketed after companies obtain distribution permits through BPOM notification,” Putri explained. She added that notification numbers remain valid for three years and can be renewed without composition changes. The notification process is relatively efficient: three working days for perfume products and 14 working days for non-perfume items.

Product Information Files and Safety Assessment Requirements

Randi Hari Putra from BPOM’s Directorate of Traditional Medicine, Health Supplements, and Cosmetics Registration emphasized the critical role of Product Information Files (PIF) within Indonesia’s and ASEAN’s cosmetic notification schemes. “PIFs must always be available to regulatory authorities, and notification holders must ensure complete document accessibility during audits,” Randi stated. PIFs contain comprehensive information regarding product safety data, quality documentation, and efficacy evidence.

According to Randi, while PIFs receive considerable attention, they’re not the sole important aspect. “To understand PIFs properly, companies must also review all related regulations, from prohibited or restricted ingredient lists, cosmovigilance requirements, product claims, contamination limits, to labeling and promotion rules,” he explained.

Randi emphasized that every company must appoint a safety assessor—a qualified expert responsible for conducting product safety evaluations before and after market entry. “Safety assessors must have cosmetic safety training, maintain ethical standards, and understand PIF-related administrative data. Those without scientific educational backgrounds must possess at least two years of work experience in the cosmetics sector,” he detailed.

Strengthening Bilateral Regulatory Cooperation

This webinar provided BPOM an opportunity to expand coverage and reinforce regulatory systems for overseeing imported cosmetic products, particularly from South Korea, given the significant presence of Korean cosmetics in Indonesia’s market. Additionally, it served to emphasize the safety of locally produced cosmetics to enhance their competitiveness in global markets.

The exchange of regulatory knowledge between Indonesia and South Korea represents a strategic step toward harmonizing safety standards while respecting each country’s unique regulatory frameworks and market conditions.

Original Article:

BPOM. (2025, September 29). Webinar Bahas Regulasi Kosmetik Korea dan Indonesia, Tekankan Keamanan dan Fungsi Produk.  Retrieved from https://www.pom.go.id/berita/webinar-bahas-regulasi-kosmetik-korea-dan-indonesia-tekankan-keamanan-dan-fungsi-produk