The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea announced on May 12 that it will conduct enhanced safety inspections on cosmetics purchased directly from overseas via online platforms, in collaboration with the Korea Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Customs Service.
Since 2024, the MFDS has been carrying out safety checks on overseas direct-purchase cosmetics. Last year, 1,080 items were inspected, and this year the inspection scale will be expanded to 1,200 items. For the first time, cosmetics suspected of being counterfeit are included in the inspection scope.
This move aims to protect the intellectual property rights of K-beauty brands and prevent damages to companies and consumers caused by the distribution of counterfeit cosmetics.
The MFDS will conduct the inspections jointly with the private sector. For overseas direct-purchase cosmetics deemed potentially hazardous, customs clearance will be withheld to prevent import and sale in South Korea, and the Korea Communications Standards Commission will be requested to block the relevant sales websites.
Inspection results will be published on the MFDS website. Additionally, for affected companies, the MFDS will link them to the 'K-Brand Dispute Response Strategy Project' to support local responses against overseas sellers, including administrative and criminal crackdowns, as well as civil and criminal lawsuits.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 12, 2026