Unapproved cosmetics
On 8th May 2017, Taiwan announced that 20 unregistered and unapproved cosmetics have been marketed, and as a result, its producers were severely punished, the portal reports.
The revised Control of Cosmetic Hygiene (2002) law stipulates that a person who sells or distributes unregistered medicated cosmetics would be liable to a one-year detention order and imprisonment and/or a fine of up to TWD 100,000,000 (€3 mn). If a person is found guilty of importing such cosmetics then they may be imprisoned up to 10 years, which may be accompanied by a fine of up to TWD 100,000,000 (€3 mn).
In addition, the unapproved product would be removed from the cosmetics industry and destroyed in its entirety.
Of the cosmetics products deemed unqualified by the Taiwanese government, the majority of these were categorised as foot masks, followed by hair dye products and toilet soaps.
Mandatory documentation
The finding comes after Taiwan announced in April 2017, that it had introduced an online recording system as a mandatory measure following the revised Control of Cosmetics Hygiene law.
The safety statute was devised to ensure the country’s cosmetics filing supports international practices and is effective at protecting consumers from unauthorised products that have entered the marketplace without approval.
Following the updated statute’s aims, the country has created the new online recording system. It will enable both general and medicated cosmetics manufacturers to input records detailing their cosmetics products prior to marketing and selling them to Taiwanese consumers.
Any unrecorded items will not be removed from store shelves and e-commerce platforms, and will not be available to purchase.
Although the system is currently a free tool, once the draft statute is approved and published, record filings will be accompanied by a fee.
Advice for enterprises
Chemlinked outlines several considerations for companies embarking on a new record file to fulfil the obligatory requirements set out by the statute.
Businesses will need to fill out information relating to the product/s they are filing. This will include basic information, a responsible person's details, the product’s related manufacturer, product package information and record statement.
Despite their popularity in leading APAC nations including China and Japan, the portal states that “mask” is not a category to choose in Taiwan cosmetics classifications. While this will be added as part of the new statute, at present, mask producers have to record their product as a "lotion" similar to "essence" products, as typically masks include a protective essence to support skin care routines.