Collaboration and constant communication are essential in ensuring that the Philippine cosmetic industry remains competitive and at par with the rest of the global cosmetics industry in terms of product innovations and safety.
Chamber of Cosmetic Industry of the Philippines officials during the recently held ASEAN Cosmetic Safety Conference (L–R) CCIP VP for government and regulatory affairs John Robinson Uy (Unilever Phils.); VP for professional development and education Shirley B. Cayago (Wipro-Splash Corporation); Food and Drug Administration representatives Florita H. Gabuna FDRO III, and Esperanza O. Almenanza FDRO III; with International Fragrance Association – Asia Pacific regional director for APAC Dr. Caroline Li, CCIP president Christine Michelle P. Reyes (Amway Phils., LLC), and EVP for external affairs Dr. Janina G. Tan (Jradiance Corporation)
This was emphasized by Shirley Cayago, Chamber of Cosmetics Industries of the Philippines’ (CCIP) VP for professional development & education. “The Philippine cosmetics industry is growing and very dynamic. Growth in terms of sales was experienced in 2024 and is being experienced in 2025. In terms of innovations and products, we are at par, especially since we are following the harmonized ASEAN cosmetic standards and regulations.”
Within the region, the implementing authorities of cosmetic standards and regulations are the ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme (AHCRS) and ASEAN Cosmetics Directive (ACD). They aim to unify the safety requirements while ensuring that IFRA’s standards are seamlessly implemented across the 10 member states.
This serves to benefit the Philippines as it enhances the competitiveness of the country’s cosmetics industry. She further explained, “the ASEAN initiatives facilitate market access, which effectively helps reduce regional trade barriers, costs and duplication of businesses. It also fosters innovation through simplified compliance requirements.”
According to Cayago, these efforts allow Philippine cosmetics to access a larger ASEAN market and be aligned with international standards for global competitiveness. While the local cosmetics industry has seen significant progress over the years, Cayago also believes there’s still work to be done.
“Product safety standards for cosmetics need updating to protect consumer health from new chemical exposures and contaminants and keep pace with scientific advancements and complex global regulatory changes.”
She also stressed that regular updates are essential to maintain consumer trust in the increasingly innovative and complex cosmetics industry. These updates also ensure that ingredients and products are proven safe, prevent potential skin irritation, allergies or possible long-term health issues.
CCIP has long been striving to address the challenges of the industry through its Cosmeticon – an annual conference organized by the CCIP that brings together industry experts to discuss crucial topics surrounding the cosmetics industry.
This year, the tradition continued as Cosmeticon recently held its third run. The event tackled the critical and ever-evolving field of Product Safety Assessment, offering a comprehensive and intensive program designed to maximize productivity and deliver invaluable insights to industry professionals as well as support the continuous growth of the Philippine cosmetics industry.
