Lot number SE002-02/080825, manufactured on 8/8/2025 and valid until 7/8/2028, is subject to the recall. The product is marketed by Toki Trading and Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and produced by Sky Eden Manufacturing Co., Ltd. According to the Drug Administration's announcement on 20/3, testing revealed the product contains sodium benzoate, an ingredient not listed on its label.
Sodium benzoate is widely used as a preservative in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Its function is to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast, thereby extending a product's shelf life.
Furthermore, the product's actual formula did not align with the declared dossier. This included using different types of raw materials, incorrect ratios, and failing to declare certain components. For example, Phenoxyethanol was used at 0,54% in production, differing from the 0,6% stated in the declared dossier.
The Drug Administration has identified this as a violation of cosmetic management regulations, which presents potential risks to consumers. Consequently, the product is being recalled and destroyed, and the responsible enterprise is required to submit a report before 17/4.
In recent months, hundreds of cosmetic products have been recalled by regulatory authorities due to discrepancies in declared dossiers, failure to meet quality standards, or containing undeclared ingredients. Most recently, the Drug Administration recalled 291 cosmetic products found to contain Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, an ingredient that has been removed from the list of permitted cosmetic components following updated guidelines from the ASEAN Cosmetic Committee.
Mr. Ta Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration, stated that recent cosmetic recalls demonstrate the agency's intensified efforts to control the quality of products on the market. These efforts have resulted in a reduction of quality-violating cosmetic products to below 1,5% among more than 3,000 market samples collected for inspection by authorities.
Moving forward, the Drug Administration aims to enhance modernization and transparency, prioritizing digital transformation and the development of a national database for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The agency is collaborating with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to finalize product traceability software and improve the capacity of its testing system, ensuring that citizens have access to safe pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
The agency also advises consumers to purchase medicines and cosmetics only from legal businesses with clear origins. Consumers should check product information on the Drug Administration's official website before use.
Le Nga
