This decision aligns with the latest regulations of the ASEAN Cosmetics Agreement. At its 42nd meeting, the ASEAN Cosmetics Committee agreed to add these two substances to the list of banned ingredients for the beauty industry. Manufacturers previously incorporated these components into a wide range of skin care, hair care, and makeup products. The administration's revocation of product announcement numbers means businesses must immediately cease circulation of all related batches across the country.
The recall of 291 cosmetic product announcement numbers signifies that all associated product batches must cease circulation and be withdrawn from the national market. The list includes diverse categories, from skin care and makeup to hair products.
Specifically, the skin care and sunscreen category includes products such as: Paula’s Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover, Nitipon Physical Sunscreen SPF50 PA+++. Hair and hair care products constitute a large portion of the recalled items, with names like: Attachment Hair Repair Essence Lotion, Atbline Advanced Hair Repair Treatment Lotion, Vitkovia’s Series Comprehensive Nourishing Conditioner.
Several familiar makeup products are also subject to recall, including Peripera Ink Airy Velvet, Feeblin Primer, Albion Primp Powderless, and Bella-Ne 24hrs Lip.
Additionally, a range of Carebeau brand products have been recalled, comprising Carebeau Speedy Hair Color Cream (in shades of Brown, Dark Brown, Natural Black, etc.), Carebeau Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream (Green, Pink, White), and Carebeau Keratin Shampoo.
Chemical experts state that silicone compound D4, which includes cyclotetrasiloxane and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, is a cyclic silicone widely used in the cosmetics industry for many years. Manufacturers added this chemical to foundations, lipsticks, sunscreens, and hair care products to create a smooth, easily spreadable, and instantly glossy feel.
However, international toxicology studies demonstrate that D4 can disrupt the endocrine system. The European Union (EU) previously placed D4 on its warning list, classifying it as an agent that may impair reproductive ability and negatively impact fetuses if humans are exposed for extended periods.
Beyond health risks, D4 also threatens ecosystems due to its difficult decomposition and high bioaccumulation properties. After users wash their face or hair, this chemical flows through wastewater systems into rivers and oceans. It accumulates in the fatty tissues of aquatic species and can return to the human body via the food chain. ASEAN's move to ban D4 is a necessary step to synchronize with the EU's strict Cosmetics Regulation. This update helps prevent Southeast Asia from becoming a market for products that no longer meet international safety standards.
Leaders of the Drug Administration of Vietnam require distributing businesses to promptly inform their agency networks, withdraw products from the market, and organize the destruction of non-compliant goods. Provincial and city health departments will directly supervise this process and strictly penalize non-compliant businesses. Authorities advise consumers to immediately stop purchasing and using these products, and to proactively return them to their point of purchase.
Le Nga
