12 NEWS
Ingredient makers included in K-beauty national masterplan
Personal care ingredient makers will be included in South Korea’s new national plan to accelerate the growth of its beauty industry. Seoul passed legislation this
month that gives its Ministry of Health and Welfare the formal legal authority to bolster the entire K-beauty ecosystem. This, reported The Korea Times,
ranges from brand developers and primary manufacturers to advanced packaging suppliers, raw material innovators and international distribution networks. Korean cosmetics exports
reached an all-time high of $11.4 billion in 2025. “K-beauty has grown into a
globally competitive export industry through the relentless innovation and ambition of our domestic companies,” said Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong. “With the enactment of this law,
we will actively support the sector so it can take the leap toward becoming the world’s undisputed market leader.” Under the newly created
framework, added The Korea
Times, the government will draft a comprehensive policy strategy for industrial advancement every five years. Major policy initiatives will
undergo systematic review from a newly established public-private policy steering committee. To accelerate international
growth, the law introduces a formal certification for “innovative cosmetics companies.” High-performing enterprises
demonstrating substantial research and development investment alongside proven export capacity will receive priority access to government research grants, state-backed investment funds and specialized regional infrastructure programs, according to the ministry. State support will also expand
into key modernization initiatives, including artificial intelligence integration for personalized product design, digital supply chain optimization, specialized workforce training and international regulatory compliance support. Small and medium-sized
enterprises will receive prioritized
Nominations open for PCHi China awards
Nominations are open for the Fountain Awards at the 2027 PCHi (Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients) trade show in China. The awards will be
presented at PCHi 2027, which takes place on 24–26 February at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. The awards are across five
access to these major programmes to ensure sustainable, long-term development across the supply chain, according to the ministry. The legislation is scheduled to
take effect one year after its official promulgation, following final cabinet deliberation. In the interim, health officials
said they plan to consult closely with industry leaders and technical experts to finalize subordinate regulations and draft the government’s inaugural five-year strategic development plan.
China unveils mandatory national safety standards
China is to introduce new mandatory national safety standards for cosmetics, taking effect on 1 January 2028.
The standards, formulated by
the National Medical Products Administration and issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation, set strict limits on microbes, heavy metals and other harmful substances. They will also set limits on the
amount of bacteria, mould and yeast that cosmetics can contain. In addition, they will prohibit the
presence of several microorganisms that can pose serious health risks, including thermotolerant coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They will replace older hygiene
standards for cosmetics published in 1987.
The new standard is designed
to provide a comprehensive safety benchmark for all cosmetics produced
and on the mouth and lips. The standard also sets maximum
limits for eight harmful substances, including lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium. For raw materials that could
and sold in China, authorities told China Daily. It is based in part on
microbiological limits set by the International Organization for Standardization, but introduces stricter requirements for certain products. For cosmetics intended for
children, the requirements are about 10 times stricter. They apply mainly to cleansers,
moisturizers, powders and sunscreens intended for children up to 12 years of age, as well as products used around the eyes, on eyelashes
PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE October 2026
leave behind residues of methanol, asbestos, benzene or other hazardous substances, manufacturers must strictly control the levels of such residues and increase testing, according to the standard. The new rules are part of efforts
to strengthen safety oversight as China’s cosmetics industry continues to expand.
Official data from the National
Medical Products Administration shows that China’s cosmetics market surpassed 1.1 trillion yuan ($163 billion) for the first time in 2025, an increase of 2.8 percent year-on-year. The number of cosmetics
manufacturers has also grown sharply, from about 70 in 1980 to more than 6,000 in 2026.
www.personalcaremagazine.com
categories: Active Ingredients, Pioneering Innovative Ingredients, Formulation & Functional Ingredients, Green/ Sustainable, and Finished- Product Brands (including OEM/ODM) Self-Developed Ingredients. All PCHi 2027 exhibitors are
eligible to enter. Each company may enter up to three products, and each product may be nominated in only one category. Every entry requires supporting documentation, including product specifications, efficacy and safety data, and a description of the innovation. Nominations are made
through the Exhibitor Portal, where entry and review run entirely online. All documents must be
provided in both Chinese and English, and the deadline is 23:00 (GMT+8) on 23 November. A dedicated Fountain
Awards display area at PCHi 2027 will place finalists in front of thousands of industry professionals, with direct opportunities to connect with the sector’s decision-makers and innovators. “The Fountain Awards
captures the spirit of innovation at the heart of PCHi. This year’s refined judging system reflects our commitment to keeping the Awards rigorous and relevant as the industry evolves,” said a PCHi spokeswoman.
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