The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) is a regional agreement aimed at harmonising cosmetic product requirements to reduce technical trade barriers among ASEAN member states. There are five lists specifying prohibited, restricted, and permitted ingredients used in cosmetic products in the Annexes of the ACD.
- Annex II Part 1: List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products
- Annex III Part 1: List of substances which cosmetic products must not contain, except subject to restrictions and conditions laid down
- Annex IV Part I: List of colouring agents allowed for use in cosmetic products
- Annex VI: List of preservatives allowed
- Annex VII: List of permitted UV filters which cosmetic products may contain
The ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) and the ASEAN Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB) meet twice a year to review regulations, including updates to the ACD annexes. The most recent meeting was held in December 2025, and the latest revisions to Annexes II, III, and VII were updated on December 12, 2025.
Updates to Annexes II
Note: The entries highlighted in yellow indicate the latest updates.
First, substance No. 1388 is revised to add the new CAS number “293-51-6".
| Substances | CAS Number | Ref. No |
| Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane; D4 | 556-67-2 / 293-51-6 | 1388 |
Secondly, amendments were made to Items No. 1539, 1540, 1541, and 1542, specifically revising the expression of prohibited thresholds for hazardous impurities. The original phrasing of "equal to (=) a specific concentration" is standardized to 'greater than or equal to (≥) the corresponding concentration'." Also, for Items 1605, 1606, and 1607, greater than or equal to (≥) were revised.
| Substances | Ref. No |
| Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,1 % w/w benzene | 1539 |
| Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,005% w/w benzo[a]pyrene | 1540 |
|
Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,1 % w/w benzene or if they contain = 0,005 %w/w benzo[a]pyrene |
1541 |
| Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,1% w/w 1,3-butadiee | 1542 |
|
N,N'-Methylenedimorpholine; N,N'-methylenebismorpholine; [formaldehyde released from N,N'-Methylenebismorpholine]; [MBM] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0.1 % w/w |
1605 |
|
Reaction products of paraformaldehyde with 2-hydroxypropylamine (3:2); [formaldehyde released from 3,3'-methylenebis[5–methyloxazolidine]; [formaldehyde released from oxazolidin]; [MBO] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0.1 % w/w |
1606 |
|
Reaction products of paraformaldehyde with 2-hydroxypropylamine (1:1)); [formaldehyde released from a,a,atrimethyl-1,3,5-triazine-1,3,5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol]; [HPT] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0.1 % w/w |
1607 |
Thirdly, Item No. 1721 was revised by removing the exemption clause “Except Cambodia”. Additionally, two new prohibited substances are introduced: Item No. 1723 and Item No. 1724.
| Substances | CAS Number | Ref. No |
|
2-ethyl-2-[[(1-oxoallyl)oxy]methyl]-1,3-propanediyl diacrylate; 2,2-bis(acryloyloxymethyl)butyl acrylate; trimethylolpropane triacrylate Excluding Cambodia |
15625-89-5 | 1721 |
|
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor; 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-camphor |
36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4 | 1723 |
| Miconazole [1]; Miconazole Nitrate [2] | 22916-47-8[1]; 22832-87-7[2] | 1724 |
Updates to Annexes III
Two new restricted substances were introduced: Item No. 343 and Item No. 344.
Note: The entries highlighted in yellow indicate the latest updates.
| Ref No ACD # (EU #) |
Substance/CAS No | Restrictions | Conditions of use and warning that must be printed on the labels | ||
| Field of application and/or use | Maximum authorised concentration in the ready-for-use preparation | Other limitations and requirements | |||
| A | B | C | D | E | F |
| 343 (373) |
Genisteol; 4',5,7-Trihydroxyisoflavone; 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4- benzopyrone; Genistein Excluding Indonesia |
0.007 % | |||
| 344 (374) |
Daidzeol; 4',7-Dihydroxyisoflavone; 7- hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4- benzopyrone; Daidzein |
0.02% | |||
Updates to Annexes VII
Item No. 18, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, is removed from the list.
Note: The entries highlighted in yellow indicate the latest updates.
| Reference number | Substance | Maximum authorised concentration | Other limitations and requirements | Conditions of use and warnings that must be printed on the label |
| a | b | c | d | e |
| 18 |
3-(4’-Methylbenzylidene)-dl-camphor (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor) |
4% |
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