Taiwan to ban estrogens in cosmetics

Under the ban, the three components of estrogen in question, estradiol, ethinyl estradiol and estrone, will no longer be permissible in any cosmetics item which is produced, distributed or sold in Taiwan.

The ban comes into effect from May this year, according to the FDA, earlier than previously announced. After this point, any manufacture of products containing the substances will incur a fine of up to NT150,000, or fixed-term sentence of up to a year.

Pushing it forward​

Concerns over the danger posed by the estrogen types has been mounting steadily over recent months in Tawain, pushing the ban forward on the FDA's agenda.

Initially, the regulatory body had proposed it would not take effect until July, but, reportedly due to pressure from the head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Chiang Been-huang, the FDA has now brought the ban forward to May.

Following suit​

Taiwan's move to ban the three estrogen types follows the World Health Organization's classification of estrogen of a highest ranking cancer-causing substance in 2012.

It follows comparable moves by regulatory bodies across the globe to restrict the ingredients' use in cosmetics products: Canada, ASEAN nations, the EU and the US have all recently stepped up regulation against estrogen.

Under Taiwan's new ruling, even the import and supply of estrogen-containing will no longer be permitted.

It will be a big step up in severity of regulation of the ingredients, as until now, use of estrone, ethinyl and ethinyl estradiol has only required a permit.