Korean Cosmetics Recall List: 28 Notices Analysed
RU Статья пока только на английском.
Сайт на русскомContents · 3 sections
Bottom line: of the 28 cosmetics recall notices on the Korean cosmetics recall list published by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on 16 October 2026, 13 (46.4%) were for microbial limits or spoilage, 6 (21.4%) for labelling problems, and 3 each for a prohibited colourant, an ingredient over its limit, and substandard quality such as low active-ingredient content.
MFDS publishes recall and disposal orders on its nedrug portal, where the list can be filtered to cosmetics. This article takes every notice shown on the access date and groups the official recall reasons into five categories.
Korean cosmetics recall list by reason
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Reason group | Notices | Share | Recall reasons as worded in the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microbial / spoilage | 13 | 46.4% | Microbial limit exceeded (5), partial spoilage of the cosmetic (8) |
| Labelling | 6 | 21.4% | Falsified labelling particulars (4), altered expiry date (1), label not attached so product name did not match (1) |
| Prohibited colourant | 3 | 10.7% | Colourant not permitted in cosmetics detected or used |
| Ingredient limit exceeded | 3 | 10.7% | p-Aminophenol above the standard |
| Quality | 3 | 10.7% | Functional cosmetic active ingredient below content (1), active ingredient content/identification failed (1), suspected quality nonconformity (1) |
| Total | 28 | 100% |
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Year of recall order | 2024 (Sep–Dec) | 2025 | 2026 (Jan–Jun) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notices | 5 | 16 | 7 |
Number of notices (recall orders 30 Sep 2024 to 16 Jun 2026)
Cosmetics recall notices · by reason, recall orders 30 Sep 2024 to 16 Jun 2026 · Source: MFDS nedrug, recall and disposal (cosmetics) · ACCESSED 2026-10-16 · notices
Definitions, sources and access date
- Scope: MFDS nedrug “Recall and disposal” board, item type “Cosmetics”, all 28 notices displayed on 16 October 2026 (recall order dates 30 September 2024 to 16 June 2026). Each notice has a publication end date, after which it leaves the list, so this is the set of notices public on the access date, not a full history of recalls.
- Grouping: we grouped the “recall reason” text of each notice into five categories. A product that received recall orders on two dates counts twice. The 28 notices involve 14 companies; the 8 spoilage notices are all wet-wipe products from one company.
- Sources: MFDS nedrug, recall and disposal (cosmetics): https://nedrug.mfds.go.kr/pbp/CCBAI01/getList?searchYn=true&searchTypeCode=C&page=1&limit=50 · MFDS press note on the recall of cosmetics in which the colourant Scarlet Red was detected (8 February 2026): https://www.mfds.go.kr/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=49678
- Data accessed: 16 October 2026
What importers and distributors should take from it
Microbial problems and spoilage make up almost half. The 13 notices covered wet wipes (8), bubble bath and baby shampoo (3), a body scrub (1) and a baby hand cleanser (1). If you import products of this kind, ask your supplier for microbial test results.
Labelling problems are man-made risks. Five notices concerned falsified labelling particulars or an altered expiry date. Checking that label, batch number and expiry date agree at goods-in would catch this type of problem.
Ingredient violations involve coloured products. Prohibited colourants were found in three items including a lip balm and a lip oil, and p-aminophenol over the limit in three brown-shade products from one company. In February 2026 MFDS also announced the recall of cosmetics in which the colourant Scarlet Red was detected.
How to check: on the nedrug “Recall and disposal” page, set the item type to cosmetics; you can then search by product or company name and download the list as an Excel file. Checking it periodically for the brands and manufacturers you deal with is a simple habit worth keeping.
The number of public recall notices in Korea is small, but the reasons show clearly what an overseas buyer should check at goods-in: batch and expiry consistency, storage condition, and ingredients in coloured products. Asking suppliers for product test reports and batch records is the baseline.
Related reading: FDA import refusals of Korean cosmetics · EU Safety Gate alerts on Korean cosmetics · Counterfeit cosmetics seizures in Korea
Related pages: Brands · FAQ · Contact us