On 12 May 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), together with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the Korea Customs Service, announced a joint public-private initiative to conduct safety inspections on cosmetics suspected of being counterfeit and purchased through overseas direct online platforms. The agencies stated that the inspection program will expand from 1,080 cases in 2025 to 1,200 cases in 2026 in response to the growing volume of overseas direct purchases of cosmetics and increasing circulation of counterfeit K-beauty products. According to the authorities, the inspection process will include information collection, product purchasing, laboratory testing, evaluation, and regulatory actions. The initiative aims to protect consumer safety, maintain confidence in K-beauty products, and strengthen intellectual property protection for Korean cosmetics companies. The program forms part of the “Plan to Strengthen Safety and Quality Competitiveness of K-Beauty” announced during the 6th National Policy Coordination Meeting in November 2025. The agencies further stated that products identified as unsafe may face customs clearance suspension and online sales blocking measures. Inspection findings will also be published on the MFDS website, while affected companies may receive legal and enforcement support against overseas counterfeit sellers.
Consumer News Region