The Drug Administration of Vietnam has officially ordered a nationwide suspension and recall of specific batches of facial cleanser and hand soap due to discrepancies between their actual chemical composition and registered dossiers. The violations were identified following quality inspections at a major supermarket chain in Hanoi.
Affected Products List
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Acnes Vitamin Cleanser (50g tube): Batch EB01B, expiry date May 2028, manufactured by Rohto – Mentholatum (Vietnam) Co., Ltd.
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Kleen Hand Wash – Green Tea (500ml bottle): Batch 002, manufactured in January 2025 by Saigon Cosmetics Corporation.
Technical Non-compliance Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Sodium Benzoate in both products, a preservative not listed in the officially approved formulation. The manufacturers explained that this substance was an unintended component from a raw material (Cocamidopropyl Betaine) used in production. Furthermore, the Kleen hand soap failed to show detectable levels of Phenoxyethanol, despite it being listed as an active ingredient on the packaging.
Enforcement Actions Regulatory authorities have mandated that both companies complete the recall process and submit a comprehensive report by February 13. Additionally, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has been tasked with supervising the destruction of the faulty batches and evaluating the revocation of the products’ notification numbers. These measures aim to enforce strict transparency in product labeling and protect consumers from inaccurately declared formulations.