On October 15, 2025, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) released four draft amendments to the Thailand Cosmetic Act, proposing updates to the country’s lists of prohibited and restricted substances. The revisions aim to align Thailand’s regulations with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD).
The drafts are now open for public consultation until October 29, 2025.
Salicylic Acid
INCI Name: Salicylic Acid
CAS No.: 69-72-7
When used as a non-preservative, Salicylic Acid is regulated under Entry 68 of Thailand’s restricted substance list. It is not permitted in products intended for children under three years old, except for shampoo. The maximum permitted concentration is:
3% for products applied to hair, eyebrows, or beard (excluding rinse-off eyelash products);
2% for all other product types.
The MOPH proposes to replace Entry 68 with a revised version that reflects the updated ASEAN requirements for non-preservative use. The label warning will also be standardized, requiring all products containing Salicylic Acid to display:
“Not to be used on children under three years of age.”
The amendment will take effect 90 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.
Piperonal (Heliotropine)
INCI Name: Heliotropine
CAS No.: 120-57-0
From September 13, 2025, Piperonal has been classified as a Category 4 narcotic substance in Thailand. To prevent misuse, the MOPH plans to specify its allowable use conditions in cosmetics.
Piperonal will be prohibited, except when:
Used only as a fragrance ingredient;
Present at a maximum concentration of 1%; and
The raw material contains no more than 10% Piperonal.
Supplementary Revisions to Existing Prohibited Substances
The draft amendments also update information under the following prohibited substance entries:
2-Ethylhexanoic Acid (CAS 149-57-5) – Entry 1013
Theophylline (CAS 58-55-9) – Entry 1230
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) (CAS 556-67-2) – Entry 1613
The revisions mainly involve additional substance information within the entries. These changes will become effective upon publication in the Royal Gazette.
Addition of 24 New Prohibited Substances
In addition, the MOPH proposes to include 24 new substances in the List of Prohibited Cosmetic Ingredients. The new entries will take effect upon publication in the Royal Gazette.
Summary
This update demonstrates Thailand’s continued effort to align national cosmetic regulations with ASEAN standards and to strengthen oversight on ingredient safety.
Manufacturers, exporters, and importers are advised to:
Review formulations containing Salicylic Acid, Piperonal, or other affected substances;
Update product labels, documentation, and compliance records in line with the new requirements;
Closely follow the Royal Gazette for final publication and effective implementation dates.
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