MFDS, Modamoda Risk Assessment "Verification Entities Are MFDS and Respective Companies"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) emphasized that the verification entities for the risk assessment of the ingredient '1, 2, 4-Trihydroxybenzene (THB)', a raw material of Modamoda shampoo, are the MFDS and companies. This was in response to the Consumer Organizations Council (COC) forming a 'Risk Assessment Verification Committee' and the claim that companies were excluded from the discussions.

Kang Baek-won, spokesperson for the MFDS, said at a briefing held on the 4th at the Seoul Regional Food and Drug Administration, "Following the Regulatory Reform Committee's recommendation to develop an evaluation plan together with companies and conduct additional risk verification, we designed the entire process," adding, "During the design process, considering possible objectivity concerns, we thought it was desirable to entrust a third party, so we requested the COC."

The MFDS explained that the Risk Assessment Verification Committee formed by the COC is a 'platform.' Kim Sang-bong, Director of the Bio-Pharmaceutical Division at the MFDS, said, "It is a misunderstanding that the COC conducts the risk assessment," and added, "The risk assessment plans will be submitted separately by the MFDS and companies to the verification platform table, and the verification committee will provide opinions on whether the methods are reasonable and appropriate."

Earlier, on January 26, the MFDS listed THB as a banned ingredient due to potential genotoxicity concerns, but the Regulatory Reform Committee under the Prime Minister's Office recommended conducting additional risk verification over two years and six months before deciding on the ban.

Accordingly, the MFDS announced on the 23rd of last month that it would form a 'Risk Assessment Verification Committee' led by the COC to conduct additional evaluation of THB, which the companies opposed, claiming there was no consultation regarding the selection of the institution.

Regarding the fact that a consumer organization, rather than universities or research institutes, is leading the risk assessment committee, the MFDS explained that this was due to the nature of the product. Spokesperson Kang said, "We considered various options including several research institutes, universities, and even direct management, but since it is a product used by consumers, we thought a consumer organization was appropriate." He also added that expertise can be supplemented through the composition of the verification committee.

Furthermore, the MFDS expressed that setting detection amount standards for regulation is 'almost impossible.' Yoon Hye-sung, head of the Cosmetics Research Division at the Food and Drug Safety Evaluation Institute, said, "Genotoxicity cannot have a threshold for 'how much toxicity there is,'" and added, "For substances that inevitably can be detected to some extent, standards can be set, but this ingredient is used with intentional purpose, so it does not apply."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.