The Drug Administration of Vietnam’s decision on 14/4 initiated the recall following tests by the Hanoi Department of Health. THERAPY 3M cajeput oil was found to contain Phenoxyethanol, an ingredient not declared in its registration dossier. IVYPHARMA Joint Venture Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Company Limited, the manufacturer, and 3M PHARMA Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Joint Stock Company, the distributor, explained that they accidentally used alcohol containing this substance during the cleaning process of packaging bottles.
Authorities also identified inconsistencies in the company’s manufacturing records. The original formula, the production batch formula, and the formula stated on the product label showed different ingredient ratios, indicating a lack of uniformity in the manufacturing process.
Beyond quality issues, the product’s label made claims exceeding the scope of cosmetic products. Specifically, the label stated benefits such as "help keep warm", "prevent cold", and "prevent cold", recommending its use for infants and young children displaying symptoms of a cold, and even suggesting combination with cough syrup. Under regulations, these are therapeutic claims, which are not permissible for cosmetic classification.
Concurrently, authorities also ordered the recall of a batch of Kingphar turmeric cream, in 20g tubes. This product was marketed by Kingphar Vietnam Joint Stock Company and manufactured by Vinh Thinh Vuong Production Trading Company Limited. Previously, the Gia Lai Department of Health had collected samples for testing and concluded that the product violated microbiological limit standards.
Experts warn that infants' exposure to Phenoxyethanol, especially when it is not part of the standard formula, can lead to allergic dermatitis and pose a direct threat to their delicate nervous systems. Furthermore, parents who rely on "illusory healing" claims from cosmetic products risk missing critical windows for proper medical treatment when their children are ill.
Moreover, applying turmeric cream that fails microbiological standards to damaged skin can create an entry point for bacteria, leading to infections and severe ulcers. Therefore, consumers must immediately discard these poor-quality products and promptly seek medical attention if they notice any unusual symptoms on their body.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam has instructed the brands to immediately notify their distribution networks, recall, and destroy all faulty products, submitting detailed reports by 14/5. The Hanoi Department of Health is directly supervising the handling process by both companies, revoking their public declaration registration numbers, and will report the results to the Drug Administration of Vietnam by 29/5/2026.
Recently, regulatory bodies have intensified efforts to tighten control over the cosmetic market, aiming to prevent poor-quality products from harming user health. Just yesterday, authorities also compelled Lotus An Viet Company Limited to withdraw and destroy seven products from the market due to a lack of legally required information dossiers.
Le Nga
