Taiwan FDA revises guidelines for children’s cosmetics for utmost safety

22 Aug 2022 --- Supervising the safety of children’s cosmetics, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has revised the safety guidelines to include 19 additional regulations.

Children’s cosmetic manufacturers are advised to prioritize ingredients with a history of safe use and reduce the use of essence, fragrances, colors and preservatives outlined by the Circular document.

The guidelines cover a wide range of cosmetics, including oral, lip, eye and nail, as well as toothpaste and mouthwash.

Ingredients used and packagingCosmetics that may contain phthalates include nail polishes, hair sprays and aftershave lotions.
The TFDA guidelines also state that the microbial count in products intended for children under three years old should be below 100 CFU/g or CFU/mL, while escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureus and candida albicans should not be detected.

To deter children from eating or misusing the products, TFDA recommends clearly distinguishing the appearance, smell, packaging, capacity and label of the products and having warning labels for adult supervision.

While cosmetics containing salicylic acid, calcium salicylate, magnesium salicylate, MEA-salicylate, sodium salicylate, potassium salicylate and tea salicylate are not recommended for children under three, hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide should not be used by those under 12. 

Ingredients such as camphor, menthol and methyl salicate are unsuitable for children under two years old.

Nail care and dental health 
Nail products containing toluene and cosmetics with thioglycolic acid, potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide must be marked with precautions.

The TFDA also places restrictions on dental care products. In considering the fluoride content of non-medicinal kinds of toothpaste that reaches 0.1% to 0.15%, and there is no label prohibiting children from using it; the product should clarify the dosage for different age groups. 

Also, non-medical toothpaste and mouthwashes containing strontium must come with warning labels.

For children under three years old, oral, lip and eye cosmetics containing silver chloride, indopropynyl butylcarbamate, butylparaben, propylparaben, propylparaben, sodium propylparaben, sodium butylparaben, potassium butylparaben and potassium propylparaben ingredients should be flagged.

Talcum scrutinyTFDA has recommended that cosmetics containing talcum powder shall be marked with precaution.
The TFDA has also recommended that cosmetics containing talcum powder (talc) shall be marked with the precaution “keep away from mouth and nose when using by children.”

Talc has been examined over its links to cancer as the powder may contain traces of asbestos.

The US Food and Drug Administration says that published literature on talc and ovarian cancer dates to the 1960s. However, “studies have not conclusively demonstrated such a link, or if such a link existed, what risk factors might be involved.” Hence, it has ongoing research into talc risks.

Earlier this month, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced that the company would switch to cornstarch-based baby powder, replacing talc, as Talcum Powder Compensation Center (TPCC) recently urged US consumers of J&J’s Baby Powder to reach out to a legal team for “millions of dollars” as compensation.

The TPCC warned that women and men who may have used J&J’s Baby Powder as a child, as a teenager or as a young person and continued to do so for years are at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Need for regulating cosmetic chemicals
The American Academy of Pediatrics published an article stating that infants exposed to infant care products, specifically baby shampoos, baby lotions and baby powder showed increased levels of phthalate metabolites in their urine.

A study by the National Institutes of Health suggests that prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with preterm birth. Researchers from Spain also studied the impact of exposure to phthalates during early life on reproductive development and function and found that it influences the timing of pubertal development.

Phthalates are colorless, odorless, oily liquids, also called “plasticizers,” based on their most common uses in various cosmetics and personal care products. Cosmetics that may contain phthalates include nail polishes, hair sprays and aftershave lotions.

Monitoring and regulating the ingredients in everyday products that can cause long-term life risks is essential.

Edited By Radhika Sikaria