Global Cosmetics Regulatory Updates: October 2026 Changes for International Businesses

Asia

Indonesia: Halal certification timeline and implementation guidance

Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026 extends the phased implementation period for halal certification covering cosmetics and several other product categories through October 17, 2028. This is an extension of the transition period, not an exemption from the underlying certification obligation.

In October, Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) also issued several implementation documents:

• BPJPH Decree No. 370 provides the Halal Product Assurance System implementation guidelines for cosmetics. Effective October 18, 2026, the guidelines cover written controls for ingredients and procurement, production, packaging and distribution. They also address ingredient review, segregation, halal labeling in Indonesian, traceability, annual audits, management review and six-monthly reporting to BPJPH. Medium and large businesses and foreign businesses must ensure that halal supervisors pass a competency assessment through an authorized body.

• BPJPH Decrees Nos. 372 and 376 cover halal assurance guidelines for genetically engineered products and sales services, respectively. Decree No. 372 took effect on October 18, 2026. Decree No. 376 took effect upon issuance, with provisions on cosmetic sales services applicable from October 18, 2026.

• BPJPH Decision No. 387/2026, effective October 18, 2026, updates the list of product categories requiring halal certification. The 14 categories include cosmetics, chemicals, biological products and related services such as processing, storage, packaging and distribution. Existing certificates remain recognized within their original inspection scope.

Companies should use the extended transition period to review product scope, ingredient sourcing, manufacturing controls and documentation. See REACH24H's Indonesia BPJPH Halal Certification Services.

Philippines: Automatic cosmetics notification pilot

On October 1, 2026, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a pilot automatic notification process, scheduled to run through December 31, 2026. The first batch covers perfumes, eau de parfum and eau de cologne. Licensed cosmetic establishments may submit applications through FDA ePortal 1.

An automatically issued Certificate of Product Notification confirms successful submission only. It does not mean that the FDA has approved the product, completed a technical evaluation or confirmed compliance. The product license holder remains responsible for compliance, and notified products remain subject to post-market surveillance. The FDA may suspend or cancel a notification certificate in cases of non-compliance. See the Philippine FDA issuances portal.

Vietnam: Draft cosmetics decree notified to the WTO

On October 2, 2026, Vietnam notified the WTO of a draft cosmetics management decree comprising 10 chapters and 60 articles. The draft covers manufacture, notification, import and export, and market circulation. Proposed changes include electronic notification, a product management number in place of the notification receipt number, risk-based classification, and revised requirements for Product Information Files and serious undesirable effect reporting.

The draft proposed submission to the government in November 2026 and an effective date of January 1, 2027. It also proposes that an annex to the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive issued by Vietnam's Ministry of Health would generally apply 12 months after publication, except in urgent safety cases. These are draft provisions and should not be treated as current requirements. The WTO ePing notification record lists the draft.

South Korea: Voluntary accessibility guidance

On October 20, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued guidance on braille and voice or sign-language video codes for cosmetic containers and packaging. It sets out voluntary recommendations on format, placement, information and testing. The guidance does not establish a universal mandatory requirement to use braille or QR codes.

ASEAN: Laboratory risk-management guidance

On October 20, 2026, ASEAN issued guidance on integrating ISO/IEC 17025:2017 risk and opportunity management into cosmetics testing quality control and method review. It applies to laboratories' internal validation of methods, not standard or official methods. The guidance recommends setting review frequency in light of method use, equipment or parameter changes, sample-matrix changes and quality-control results.

Europe

European Union: SCCS fragrance-ingredient safety opinions

On October 15, 2026, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published final safety opinions on piperonal and acetophenone in cosmetics.

The SCCS considered piperonal safe at concentrations up to 1.8% in adult fine fragrances; this conclusion is limited to that use. It considered acetophenone safe at up to 100 ppm (0.01%) in cosmetics for adults and children aged three and older when present as a constituent of natural complex substances. The assessment considered exposure from non-cosmetic sources. The conclusion applies to acetophenone in this context, not to the natural complex substances as a whole. See the European Commission's SCCS opinions.

North America

United States: FDA final guidance on mandatory cosmetics recalls

On October 22, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the final Questions and Answers Regarding Mandatory Cosmetics Recalls: Guidance for Industry. The guidance explains FDA's mandatory recall authority under section 611 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as added by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), and describes the relevant procedures and industry expectations. The final guidance made no substantive changes from the 2025 draft.

FDA may order a mandatory recall if it determines that there is a reasonable probability that a cosmetic is adulterated or misbranded and that use of, or exposure to, the cosmetic will cause serious adverse health consequences or death, and the responsible person refuses to voluntarily cease distribution or recall the product. Companies should review their recall escalation, traceability and execution procedures against the FDA final guidance.

California: Restrictions on sunscreen environmental claims

On September 18, 2026, the California Governor approved Assembly Bill 1744, adding section 17580.7 to the Business and Professions Code. The law restricts advertising, labels or containers for sunscreens sold in California from using claims such as "reef safe" or "ocean safe," or similar claims likely to imply that the product does not harm marine ecosystems, when the product contains chemical ultraviolet filters. Sunscreens free of chemical UV filters are outside this restriction. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. See California Assembly Bill 1744.

Companies should review California-facing sunscreen claims and packaging before the effective date, including implied environmental claims.

Oceania

Australia: October Poison Standard takes effect

On October 1, 2026, Australia's Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—October 2026) instrument took effect, replacing the June 2026 version. It places bisphenol A glycidyl dimethacrylate and bisphenol A glycidyl diacrylate in Schedule 6 and Appendices E and F. Formulations containing these substances must include the prescribed first-aid information, skin-sensitizer warning and safe-use instructions.

Australia: PFAS assessment statement draft open for comment

On October 21, 2026, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) released a draft PFAS introduction and use assessment statement for comment through December 2, 2026. The draft gathers information on PFAS introduction and industrial uses in Australia. This is an information-gathering exercise: it does not include a risk assessment or propose new restrictions.

Australia: TGA reports progress on sunscreen reforms

On October 27, 2026, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reported on its sunscreen regulatory reform work following a consultation held from March to May 2026, which received nearly 120 submissions. Proposed measures include stronger SPF testing, quality requirements for specified sunscreen ingredients, limits on SPF claims for secondary (cosmetic) sunscreens, and revisions to GMP guidance to clarify the regulatory responsibilities of product sponsors and manufacturers. The TGA stated that SPF label changes would follow further review and public consultation; these proposals are not yet final requirements. See the TGA sunscreen reforms page.

Impact and Actionable Advice

October's developments vary in legal status and scope. Indonesia's certification transition period has been formally extended, while the Philippines' automatic notification remains a pilot, Vietnam's decree remains a draft, South Korea's accessibility document is guidance, and Australia's PFAS and sunscreen work remains under consultation or review. Treating these different mechanisms as equivalent could lead to premature changes or missed obligations.

Companies should:

• Map products to markets and requirements. Identify products sold or planned for sale in each relevant jurisdiction and determine which rules, guidance or pilot processes apply.

• Prepare for Indonesia's halal requirements. Review ingredients, suppliers, production controls, labeling and reporting arrangements, and plan certification within the extended transition period ending October 17, 2028.

• Maintain clear recall procedures for the U.S. market. Confirm decision-making responsibilities, batch traceability and response procedures for FDA communications.

• Review California sunscreen claims. Assess product formulas, labels and advertising against AB 1744 before its scheduled January 1, 2027 effective date.

• Track proposals separately from current obligations. Monitor Vietnam's draft, the Philippine pilot, Australia's consultations and other guidance without treating them as finalized mandatory rules.