ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD): Updates Made to Annexes II, III, and VII

The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) is a regional agreement aimed at harmonising cosmetic product requirements to reduce technical trade barriers among ASEAN member states. There are five lists specifying prohibited, restricted, and permitted ingredients used in cosmetic products in the Annexes of the ACD.

Annex II Part 1: List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products
Annex III Part 1: List of substances which cosmetic products must not contain, except subject to restrictions and conditions laid down
Annex IV Part I: List of colouring agents allowed for use in cosmetic products
Annex VI: List of preservatives allowed
Annex VII: List of permitted UV filters which cosmetic products may contain

The ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) and the ASEAN Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB) meet twice a year to review regulations, including updates to the ACD annexes. The most recent meeting was held in December 2025, and the latest revisions to Annexes II, III, and VII were updated on December 12, 2025.

Updates to Annexes II

Note: The entries highlighted in yellow indicate the latest updates.

First, substance No. 1388 is revised to add the new CAS number “293-51-6".

Substances	CAS Number	Ref. No
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane; D4	556-67-2 / 293-51-6	1388

Secondly, amendments were made to Items No. 1539, 1540, 1541, and 1542, specifically revising the expression of prohibited thresholds for hazardous impurities. The original phrasing of "equal to (=) a specific concentration" is standardized to 'greater than or equal to (≥) the corresponding concentration'." Also, for Items 1605, 1606, and 1607, greater than or equal to (≥) were revised.

Substances	Ref. No
Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,1 % w/w benzene	1539
Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,005% w/w benzo[a]pyrene	1540
Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,1 % w/w benzene or if they contain = 0,005 %w/w benzo[a]pyrene	1541
Petroleum, coal, tar and natural gas and their derivatives generated using distillation and/or other processing methods if they contain =≥ 0,1% w/w 1,3-butadiee	1542
N,N'-Methylenedimorpholine; N,N'-methylenebismorpholine; [formaldehyde released from N,N'-Methylenebismorpholine]; [MBM] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0.1 % w/w	1605
Reaction products of paraformaldehyde with 2-hydroxypropylamine (3:2); [formaldehyde released from 3,3'-methylenebis[5–methyloxazolidine]; [formaldehyde released from oxazolidin]; [MBO] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0.1 % w/w	1606
Reaction products of paraformaldehyde with 2-hydroxypropylamine (1:1)); [formaldehyde released from a,a,atrimethyl-1,3,5-triazine-1,3,5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol]; [HPT] if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, in the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0.1 % w/w	1607

Thirdly, Item No. 1721 was revised by removing the exemption clause “Except Cambodia”. Additionally, two new prohibited substances are introduced: Item No. 1723 and Item No. 1724.

Substances	CAS Number	Ref. No
2-ethyl-2-[[(1-oxoallyl)oxy]methyl]-1,3-propanediyl diacrylate; 2,2-bis(acryloyloxymethyl)butyl acrylate; trimethylolpropane triacrylate Excluding Cambodia	15625-89-5	1721
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor; 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-camphor	36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4	1723
Miconazole [1]; Miconazole Nitrate [2]	22916-47-8[1]; 22832-87-7[2]	1724

Updates to Annexes III

Two new restricted substances were introduced: Item No. 343 and Item No. 344.

Note: The entries highlighted in yellow indicate the latest updates.

Ref No ACD # (EU #)	Substance/CAS No	Restrictions			Conditions of use and warning that must be printed on the labels
Ref No ACD # (EU #)	Substance/CAS No	Field of application and/or use	Maximum authorised concentration in the ready-for-use preparation	Other limitations and requirements
A	B	C	D	E	F
343 (373)	Genisteol; 4',5,7-Trihydroxyisoflavone; 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4- benzopyrone; Genistein Excluding Indonesia		0.007 %
344 (374)	Daidzeol; 4',7-Dihydroxyisoflavone; 7- hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4- benzopyrone; Daidzein		0.02%

Updates to Annexes VII

Item No. 18, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, is removed from the list.

Note: The entries highlighted in yellow indicate the latest updates.

Reference number	Substance	Maximum authorised concentration	Other limitations and requirements	Conditions of use and warnings that must be printed on the label
a	b	c	d	e
18	3-(4’-Methylbenzylidene)-dl-camphor (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor) CAS No. 38102-62-4, 36861-47-9 Entry Deleted	4%

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