The 294 imported products included sunscreens, face washes, and body washes. 

The Drug Administration Department said the revocation occurred after the businesses voluntarily requested the withdrawal of receipts.

A cosmetic product announcement receipt number is typically issued by the state authority after receiving a cosmetic product declaration. The receipt certifies that the organization or individual responsible for market distribution has declared the product’s circulation to the authorities. 

However, it does not certify the product’s safety, effectiveness, or compliance with ASEAN Cosmetic Directive requirements and its annexes.

The receipt number is valid for five years from the issuance date and can be revoked if the organization or individual requests withdrawal or if the cosmetic product violates regulations.

On May 30, a representative of the Drug Administration Department told VietNamNet that companies’ voluntarily withdrawal of receipt numbers is normal and compliant with regulations. 

The 294 figure revoked within a day was higher than usual. He said that even though the declaration receipts were revoked, state management agencies still can impose punishments on businesses and products if they find violations.

The revocation of a receipt number for a cosmetic product registered by one company does not necessarily mean the product can no longer circulate, as multiple companies may be authorized by the product owner to distribute it, except in cases of exclusive authorization.

HSD Investment and Development (based in Hung Yen) requested the withdrawal of 65 receipts; Human Offshore Partners Software Service (Ha Dong, Hanoi), 14 receipts; HS Alliance (Ha Dong, Hanoi), 15; Japan Connection Investment and Trading JSC (Ha Dong, Hanoi), 78; BB Vietnam Trading and Service (Thanh Xuan, Hanoi), 60; and 3M-INTEL Investment and Development (Gia Lam, Hanoi), 10.

The products voluntarily withdrawn by these companies included sunscreens, body washes, and face washes, such as Dove Peony & Sweet Cream Body Wash (receipt number 215792/23/CBMP-QLD, issued on November 1, 2023, manufactured by Unilever Japan K.K., marketed by Human Offshore Partners Software Service Co., Ltd.; and Shiseido ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk (receipt number 156937/21/CBMP-QLD, issued on August 30, 2021, manufactured by Shiseido Company, Limited, Japan, marketed by HSD Investment and Development Co., Ltd.

In 2024, the department revoked 500 receipt numbers for imported cosmetics due to voluntary withdrawal requests and more than 100 due to violations or errors.

Vo Thu