Dissatisfied customers can now denounce sellers and ask for compensation from cosmetics companies if the products they purchased were substandard.

Poorly labelled cosmetics, some of which are harmful, are freely sold in markets throughout the country.

This is one of the new regulations included in the Ministry of Health\'s Circular 06/2011/TT-BYT, which will be put into effect at the beginning of next month in an effort to improve management of the cosmetics trade and ensure consumer rights.

The circular regulates that individuals and enterprises trading in cosmetics must ensure that their products are not harmful to human health and include clear information about ingredients and proper usage.

Cosmetics packaging must include manufacturing and expiry dates, especially for those that can only be used for a maximum of 30 months.

Individuals and enterprises which manufacture, trade and import cosmetics must take responsibility for the safety, effectiveness and quality of their products. They must ensure that the cosmetics circulating in the market meet regulations set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.

The circular also regulates that cosmetics advertising in print media, on the internet, and on display panels must match the safety and quality documentation that comes with the product packaging.

If investigations find that cosmetics on the market do not meet the specifications listed in the documentation they will be removed from circulation, the circular says.

The Ministry of Health banned cosmetics companies from purposefully confusing customers with unclear product information.

Head of the Drug Administration\'s Cosmetics Management Division Nguyen Van Loi said management of the cosmetics trade was currently not tight enough because there was a lack of strict regulations.

"The circular will help authorities tighten management," he said.

However, the more important issue was how to get the circular effectively enforced, Loi said.

"I think we should have more inspectors to check the cosmetics market regularly and withdraw substandard products immediately," he said.

Pham Thu Trang, an employee of an advertising company, said she always used cosmetics with well-known brand names, such as Avon or Shiseido, so she had never experienced any cosmetics-related allergies.

"But in any case, I feel more secure with the new circular," she said.

Meanwhile, a cosmetics seller who wished to remain anonymous expressed her worries about the new circular.

"I often sell cosmetics imported from China, and I myself can not ensure their quality," she said.

The woman added that she intended to switch to reliable brand names.