On July 8, 2026, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the South Korea published an advance legislative notice of a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Cosmetics Act (MFDS Notice No. 2026-330), soliciting public comments on the designation and supervision of the Cosmetic Safety Information Center, as well as matters concerning the entrustment of the development and operation of the Integrated Cosmetic Information System.
Stakeholders could submit comments online through the “Center for Public Participation in Legislation” (opinion.lawmaking.go.kr) by August 18, 2026. The Decree is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026.
Background
On December 30, 2025, the Korean Cosmetics Act was amended and promulgated as Act No. 21302. Its core elements include:
- introducing a cosmetic safety assessment system—under which a cosmetic responsible selling business must prepare a cosmetic safety assessment dossier, have it reviewed by a safety assessor, and retain it on file;
- authorizing the development and operation of an Integrated Cosmetic Information System, so as to improve the cosmetics safety management framework.
To implement the matters delegated by the said parent Act amendment and the rules necessary for its implementation, the MFDS has now proposed a partial amendment to the supporting Enforcement Decree of the Cosmetics Act.
Main Contents of the Amendment
The draft amendment to the Enforcement Decree consists primarily of newly inserted provisions, covering three main aspects:
1. Designation and revocation of the Cosmetic Safety Information Center (newly inserted Articles 4 and 5)
The MFDS may designate, as the Cosmetic Safety Information Center, a relevant organization, corporation, or association that has appropriate business objectives and a business plan relating to cosmetic safety assessment and is equipped with a dedicated organization and personnel;
The detailed criteria for revocation of designation of the Cosmetic Safety Information Center are specified; upon revocation, the fact must be published on the MFDS website.
2. Guidance and supervision over the Cosmetic Safety Information Center (newly inserted Article 6)
An entity designated as the Cosmetic Safety Information Center must submit an annual business plan and a results report to the MFDS; the MFDS must provide guidance and supervision over, among other things, the Center’s business and the appropriateness of its budget preparation and execution.
- Annual reporting timing: the business plan must be submitted by December 31 of the preceding business year; the results report must be submitted by January 31 of the following year; any change to the business plan must be accompanied by a document stating the content and reasons for the change.
- Supervision matters: the Center’s business carried out under Article 18-3(2) of the Cosmetics Act, the appropriateness of budget preparation and execution, and any other matters the MFDS deems necessary.
3. Entrustment of the development and operation of the Integrated Cosmetic Information System (newly inserted Article 13-3)
The development and operation of the Integrated Cosmetic Information System is entrusted to the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management (KIDS), established under Article 68-3 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.
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- Korean Cosmetics Product Notification & Registration (General Cosmetics, Functional Cosmetics)
- Korea Cosmetic Ingredient Database (KCID) Registration
- South Korea Responsible Party (RP) Services
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