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Food and Drug Administration
Section 4 Cosmetics Safety Management
The TFDA set up the cosmetic product defect reporting system in 2008 and promoted
reporting in 2009. The number of reported cases is increasing year by year because of
consumer awareness. As more new products are developed and more news regarding
misuse of products are released recently, our major concern is how to monitor the
consumer risk factors by sharing the current news and resources, and blocking the
misleading reports.
Policy and Outcome
1. Cosmetic Product Defect Reporting System
(1) The reported cases grew from 6 in 2009 to 87 in 2013.
(2) In 2013, TFDA called two conferences and printed brochures to give to the public to
increase understanding of the cosmetic product defect reporting system (established
by TFDA) and to enhance reporting rate.
(3) TFDA is actively involved in the collection of the latest global safety and recall
information, and monitors domestic consumer information and websites. In 2013, 327
domestic and international warnings were overseen. There were 52 consumer news
items from
“
The Consumer
’
s Red and Green Signs for cosmetics safety
”
.
2. Cosmetics Safety Advocacy
(1) The following websites,
“
The Taiwan Food Drug Administration
”
,
“
Cosmetic Product
Defect Reporting System
”
,
“
The Consumer
’
s Red and Green Signs for cosmetics
safety
”
,
“
The TFDA Cosmetics Blog for Safe Usage
”
, and
“
Cosmetics safety education
programs in Youtube
”
are good platforms for the dissemination of safety information.
(2) By multiple advocacy pathways, TFDA provides consumers with information on how to
make the right choice on purchasing and using cosmetics.
Table 5-5 Statistical analysis of joint inspection on commercially available products in 2013
Product
category
Number of
counties
inspected
Number of
stores / stalls
inspected
Product labeling
Quality testing
Number of
samples
inspected
Number of
samples
In violation
Number of
samples
tested
Number of
samples
failed
Body wash
9
81
1,425
46
18
3
Shampoo
29
1
Hand cleanser
13
1