The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday announced 18 additional cosmetic products containing banned Sudan dyes, raising the number of affected items to 39, including several major international brands.
The FDA identified four new batches of raw materials containing the prohibited dye, linked to a Singapore-based supplier, which affected at least 12 local manufacturers downstream.
The newly listed products include the US-made NARS Light Reflecting Moisturizer and the South Korea-made Atomy Absolute Reset Balm, FDA Deputy Director-General Wang Te-yuan (王德原) told reporters.
Photo courtesy of the Tainan City Government
The NARS product was voluntarily submitted for testing, and all 310 units have already been recalled, he said.
The Atomy balm was flagged during expanded inspections of imported cosmetics, and authorities have recalled 1,208 units so far.
The four raw material batches came from domestic importer Eho Co — three were found during ongoing inspections of downstream manufacturers, while one was reported by a local supplier, Wang said.
The case began in late October when the FDA intercepted China-made cosmetics suspected of containing Sudan dyes. Investigations traced the materials to the Singapore supplier, prompting notifications to local manufacturers and importers on Nov. 4.
The FDA on Nov. 14 inquired with the Singapore Health Sciences Authority, which said that the city-state prohibits Sudan dyes in cosmetics and would investigate, Wang said.
Under the Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act (化粧品衛生安全管理法), using banned dyes can result in fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$5 million (US$641 to US$160,246).
Addressing confusion that the products appear white and not red, Wang said that the raw material involved in these cases are a compound ingredient containing three kinds of plant extracts.
Whether it turns red depends on the formula and amount used, he added.
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