Vietnam's Ministry of Health has ordered a nationwide recall of two cosmetic batches — Xmen for Boss Intense shower gel (180g) and Botanika hand wash (500g) — after tests revealed their actual formulas did not match the declared compositions. The move signals tighter regulatory enforcement in Vietnam's personal care market, which importers and distributors should monitor closely for compliance risks.
Recall details
The Drug Administration of Vietnam suspended circulation and recalled batch D46 of Xmen for Boss Intense shower gel (expiry 30 July 2028) and batch 706 of Botanika hand wash (expiry 10 October 2028). Both products are manufactured and marketed by Marico Southeast Asia Joint Stock Company, based in Ho Chi Minh City's Song Than 1 Industrial Park.
Reason for recall
Laboratory tests found that the recalled products contained sodium benzoate, a common preservative, which was not listed on the label. The manufacturer explained that the ingredient cocamidopropyl betaine used in production naturally contains sodium benzoate, but this was not declared in the cosmetic product notification dossier submitted to regulators.
Regulatory and channel signals
The Ministry of Health has instructed all provincial health departments to notify businesses and consumers to immediately stop trading and using the two batches. Marico Southeast Asia must send recall notices to all distributors and users, collect and destroy the affected batches, and submit a report to the Drug Administration by 25 June. The Ho Chi Minh City Health Department is supervising the recall and must report inspection results by 10 July.
What buyers should watch
For overseas importers and distributors sourcing personal care products from Vietnam, this case underscores the importance of verifying that all ingredients — including those carried by raw materials — are fully declared in product dossiers. Regulatory authorities are increasingly testing products against declared formulas, and non-compliance can lead to nationwide recalls, reputational damage, and supply chain disruption.
Source: Read the original report | Published: January 06, 2026