According to the Ministry of Health, recent post-market inspections and consumer reports have revealed increasingly complex violations in the cosmetics sector, including smuggled goods, counterfeits, and substandard or unregistered products.

These practices pose serious risks to public health, undermine consumer rights, and damage the credibility of Vietnam’s domestic cosmetics industry.

In a directive signed by Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, the ministry urged provincial People’s Committees to instruct relevant departments to intensify inspections targeting three groups: unregistered or unverified products, falsely advertised or mislabeled cosmetics, and online sales - especially via social media and e-commerce platforms.

The ministry also asked localities to routinely inspect cosmetics circulating on the market through sample testing and to strictly penalize violations. All counterfeit, untraceable, substandard, or unsafe products must be recalled and destroyed.

Provincial leaders are asked to direct the health sector to work closely with police, market regulators, customs, tax authorities, and local anti-smuggling committees to detect and prevent the production, storage, and sale of fake or low-quality cosmetics. Violators must be penalized according to the law.

Additionally, the ministry recommended reviewing current regulations to strengthen the management roles of government agencies and local authorities over cosmetic production and distribution.

Recently, the Drug Administration of Vietnam has issued multiple recalls and nationwide suspensions of cosmetic products due to quality test failures or discrepancies between product claims and actual ingredients.

For example, a sample test of Hanayuki Sunscreen Body (Batch No. 0010125) showed the actual SPF rating was 2.4, far below the labeled SPF 50. As a result, the Drug Administration ordered a recall starting May 16.

The product was marketed by VB Group (legally represented by the husband of singer Doan Di Bang) and manufactured by EBC Group at Giang Dien Industrial Park, Dong Nai Province.

Just six days earlier, authorities announced another quality violation involving Hanayuki shampoo (300g bottle), also distributed by VB Group and heavily promoted online. The product failed microbial contamination limits and contained 2-Phenoxyethanol, which was not listed in the approved formula.

In April, the Drug Administration received a formal complaint accusing Chu Thanh Huyen - wife of footballer Quang Hai and a popular social media figure - of selling Ohui Prime (Korea) toner without Vietnamese labeling or invoices, suggesting potential smuggling and tax evasion.

On April 11, the case was transferred to the Hanoi Market Surveillance Department and the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade for further investigation in accordance with the law.

Vo Thu