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Preservative Bans Among Amendments to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 13, 2020 / In November 2019, the 31st ASEAN Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB) meeting adopted various updates to the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive (ACD), including the prohibition for of forms of preservative.


The meeting, held in the Philippines, made several changes to Annexes II, III and VI. These included the deletion of two substances for use as preservatives (Annex VI). These are:


  • Thiomersal​
  • Phenylmercuric salts (including borate)


Other changes adopted at the meeting include:


  • Addition of the following CAS numbers to the entry for mercury and its compounds -
  1. 7439-97-6
  2. 54-64-8
  3. 62-38-4/94-43-9
  • Remark in Annex III concerning 5‐chloro‐2‐(2,4- dichlorophenoxy) phenol; Triclosan - not permitted as a non-preservative in Singapore
  • Removal of symbol + in Annex VI, 32 for 1‐(4‐chlorophenoxy)‐1‐ (imidazol‐1‐yl)‐3,3‐dimethylbutan‐2‐one; Climbazole - it has been included in Annex III, 326, as a substance deemed to have other uses than preservative


Climbazole has a maximum authorized concentration level under the ACD, of:


  • Hair lotions: 0.2%​
  • Face creams: 0.2%
  • Foot care products: 0.2%
  • Rinse‐off shampoo: 0.5%             


Triclosan has a maximum authorized concentration in ready for use preparations of 0.3% in most applications, but 0.2% in mouthwashes.


ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It incorporates Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.


The changes came into effect immediately.


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Queenie Ho-yan TSE 

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