On September 15, 2026, South Korea officially promulgated the Act on the Promotion of and Support for the Cosmetics Industry, together with the partial amendment to the Cosmetics Act. Both laws will enter into force one year from the date of promulgation, i.e., on September 16, 2027.
Background
To support the further development of the K-beauty industry, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) led the drafting of the Act on the Promotion of and Support for the Cosmetics Industry, providing legal support for the entire life cycle of the cosmetics industry covering R&D, ingredients, containers, manufacturing, distribution and export; at the same time, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) concurrently amended the Cosmetics Act to improve the system for cosmetics safety management and regulatory support.
Legislative Background and Process
- On August 20, 2026, the plenary session of the National Assembly of South Korea voted to pass the Cosmetics Industry Promotion and Support Act (draft), and on the same day also passed partial amendments to several bills including the Cosmetics Act, the Medical Service Act and the Nursing Act;
- On September 15, 2026, the two laws were officially promulgated after deliberation by the State Council;
- Both laws provide that they will enter into force on September 16, 2027.
Main Contents of the Act on the Promotion of and Support for the Cosmetics Industry
Establishing a comprehensive plan and a committee system for promotion and support
- The Minister of Health and Welfare shall formulate a Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of and Support for the Cosmetics Industry every five years, aligning it with the implementation plans of relevant ministries;
- A government–industry "Cosmetics Industry Promotion and Support Committee" (with no more than 15 members) will be established to deliberate on the formulation and implementation of the comprehensive plan and implementation plans, and to deliberate on major policies such as the certification of innovative cosmetics enterprises.
Introducing the "Innovative Cosmetics Enterprise" certification system
- Enterprises with outstanding performance in R&D investment and overseas market development capabilities may be certified as "innovative cosmetics enterprises";
- Certified enterprises may enjoy preferential treatment in national and local government support programs, R&D projects, etc.;
- The certification is valid for three years and may be renewed upon expiry; specific matters such as the classification of certification categories, certification criteria and support methods are delegated to the presidential decree.
Strengthening R&D and industrial innovation support
- Supporting government-led R&D programs, including eco-friendly ingredient development, sustainable packaging, and animal-testing alternative methods;
- Supporting industrial innovation based on data, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, and helping enterprises respond to sustainability (ESG) trends and build eco-friendly infrastructure.
Consolidating the industrial foundation and expanding support across the board
- Expanding support coverage to the full industrial ecosystem, covering R&D, raw material and packaging manufacturing, distribution and export beyond traditional finished product manufacturing and sales;
- Fostering professional talents through designated vocational education and training institutions;
- Boosting industrial cluster development by establishing a comprehensive support center and information system for the cosmetics industry;
- Optimizing distribution systems, expanding sales channels, and supporting overseas market access, intellectual property protection and international cooperation;
- Facilitating industry-university-research-government collaboration.
Providing preferential treatment for SMEs and mid-sized enterprises
- In major support programs, preferential treatment may be given to SMEs and mid-sized enterprises, guaranteeing their participation in industry modernization programs.
Main Contents of the Cosmetics Act Amendment
- Establishing a new "Cosmetics Management Council": to be set up within the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as a coordination and deliberation body, deliberating on policies related to cosmetics safety management, regulatory support and international cooperation;
- Formulating a five-year Basic Plan for Cosmetics Management: MFDS shall formulate and implement the plan in consultation with the Cosmetics Management Council, so as to ensure that safety and quality management policies are implemented in a consistent and systematic manner, and to keep regulatory standards in step with industrial development.
Significance of the New Legislative Updates
This round of legislation establishes a dual system of standardized regulation and industrial incentive for South Korea’s cosmetics sector. It improves national safety supervision and regulatory consistency, while introducing systematic support for full-industry-chain innovation, talent development, sustainable transformation and international market expansion. By coordinating regulatory compliance and industrial growth, the new laws further enhance the global competitiveness of K-beauty and provide a solid legal basis for the industry’s steady and high-quality development.
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