In recent months, hundreds of cosmetic products circulating in Vietnam have been recalled by regulatory bodies. Reasons include incorrect declaration documents, substandard quality, or containing unauthorized ingredients. Most recently, the Drug Administration of Vietnam, under the Ministry of Health, recalled 291 cosmetic products nationwide. These products contained Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, an ingredient removed from the list of permitted cosmetic ingredients following an update by the ASEAN Cosmetic Committee.

Previously, regulators recalled 77 cosmetic products from a business in Hanoi that failed to provide a Product Information File (PIF). A PIF is a mandatory technical document verifying quality, safety, and manufacturing processes. Additionally, other incidents garnered public attention, such as the recall of 131 cosmetic products because their manufacturing facilities did not meet regulatory conditions.

Some of Mailisa's 162 recalled products. *Screenshot*

Ta Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam, stated that recent cosmetic recalls indicate stricter enforcement by regulatory bodies in controlling the quality of circulating products. Current violations in the cosmetic industry primarily fall into several categories. The most common is the absence or inadequacy of a Product Information File (PIF).

Regulations allow businesses to self-declare cosmetic products before circulation, but they must maintain complete technical dossiers for presentation during official inspections. Many businesses only complete the initial declaration procedures without fully developing safety verification documents. This leads to recalls during post-market surveillance.

Some products have been found to have actual formulas different from those registered in their declaration documents. This suggests potential ingredient changes after registration or manufacturing non-compliance with declared processes.

For cosmetics, formula discrepancies can compromise product safety or advertised efficacy. More severe cases involve undisclosed ingredients or the use of active substances restricted under ASEAN regulations.

Beyond ingredient and quality issues, authorities also found many instances of product labeling exaggerating benefits or misleading consumers through advertising. This is a common issue for products heavily promoted on social media.

According to experts, the recalls reflect the rapid growth of Vietnam's cosmetic market. In recent years, the cosmetic industry has seen robust growth driven by the e-commerce boom, rising personal care trends, and the emergence of numerous domestic and imported brands. According to Statista data, Vietnam's cosmetic market is estimated to exceed 2,4 billion USD in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 10-15%. With 90% of products being imported, this poses significant challenges for quality management.

Another reason for the increased number of recalls is enhanced inspection activities and active consumer reporting of alleged violations to authorities. In compliance with Directive 13 and Prime Minister's dispatches on combating smuggling, fraud, and intellectual property violations for goods in general and cosmetics in particular, the agency conducted 12 peak inspection campaigns in 2025. It continued a peak campaign before, during, and after Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) in early 2026, uncovering numerous cases and violations.

"Post-market surveillance of cosmetics, administrative penalties, product recalls, and declaration receipt numbers are carried out decisively, with no exceptions," Hung stated. As a result, the rate of quality-violating cosmetic products subject to recall has decreased to below 1,5% among over 3.000 samples collected for inspection by authorities.

Hung also mentioned that in the coming period, the Drug Administration of Vietnam will enhance modernization and transparency. It will prioritize digital transformation and establish a national database for pharmaceutical cosmetics. The Administration will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to finalize product traceability software and improve the capacity of the testing system, ensuring public access to safe pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

For cosmetics, the Administration's direction is to improve regulations (decrees, circulars) and reduce the processing time for cosmetic product declaration documents. It also aims to proactively enhance post-market surveillance of declaration documents, product information files, and compliance with legal regulations on cosmetic manufacturing, declaration, and business.

The agency also advises consumers to purchase medicines and cosmetics only from legitimate businesses with clear origins. Consumers should check product information on the Administration's official website before use.

Le Nga