Laws & Regulation: Top news on cosmetics regulation across the APAC region

1 - Halal certification: From religious law to industry standard?

With clearly defined perimeters and strict regulation, one expert believes the Halal certification has the potential to become the de facto standard​ for cosmetic and personal care products.

Speaking to Cosmetics Design Asia, Mawarni Hassan, CEO of Cosmoderm, strongly believes that companies should consider being Halal-certified, not just so they can penetrate the fast growing market, but to prove the quality and safety of their products.

“Halal certification can be and should be a de facto standard for cosmetics, I think it will be what we will be looking at in the next five to ten years. In fact, Malaysia is going for a Halal ISO, that’s the next step I think we are working towards.”

2 - The end of animal-testing in China is in sight, says regulatory expert

As China’s regulatory landscape continues to shift, one expert believes it will move to abolish compulsory animal-testing​ on imported cosmetics very soon.

Paul O’Brien, a regulatory analyst at Chemlinked said that he is expecting to see China change its animal-testing requirements for imported cosmetics “in the short term”.

Realistically, O’Brien believes China will begin to move forward by utilising a system which will continue animal-testing on high-risk products and ingredients, while those considered low-risk will be exempt.

3 - Mercury in cosmetics: Philippine city introduces new rules to protect public

Officials in Quezon City, Philippines, have issued new rules that forbids​ the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of cosmetic products that contain mercury.

The new ordinance, number 2676, was approved on November 19 by Mayor Herbert M. Bautista.

It was introduced by Councillor Elizabeth A. Delarmente and filed on July 10 with the backing of another 32 councillors before being enacted on October 8 at a session presided over by Vice Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte.

4 - Top 2018 stories: The 10 most-read APAC cosmetics regulations stories of 2018 unveiled

APAC’s cosmetics regulations have constantly been in the headlines in 2018, and here we round up our top most-read policy stories of the year​, featuring animal-testing, CBEC and import laws.

1. PETA: China’s new regulation removes animal testing procedure​

Following the announcement of China Food and Drug Administration's (CFDA) new regulation — coming into effect from March 1 – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) believes it will strengthen the fight to stop animal testing in China.

As this decision may provide companies with a feasible and eff ective way to avoid the CFDA’s animal testing requirements, PETA recognises that this updated regulation could speed up China putting an end to animal cruelty through cosmetics testing.

5 - Lazada partners with Korean IP regulator to tackle counterfeit Korean products on site

Online retailer Lazada has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency (KOIPA) vowing to remove Korean counterfeit goods​ on its platform.

"We are very pleased to partner (with) Lazada in this initiative,” said Lee Hae Pyeung president of KOIPA. “Such support for IP protection offers Korean companies the assurance that their brands will remain protected and will attract more Korean sellers to join Lazada to reach their thousands of true fans."