Abstract

Consistency in meeting high product performance standards is a hallmark of quality control. But in a global marketplace where the regulatory landscape varies by jurisdiction, consumer preferences evolve along cultural and regional lines. With this, one product category blurs into another and a real challenge for suppliers is developing a quality system that flexes and adapts to accommodate a range of consumer and commercial needs and a dynamic regulatory environment. To help suppliers meet both product quality and cost efficiency, companies need a formalized quality management system that addresses the regulatory complexities of a global supply chain while meeting the needs of their customers, end-use consumers and regulators.

THE SPACE BETWEEN REGULATORY IMPERATIVE AND CONSUMER DEMAND REQUIRES AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INGREDIENT SUPPLIER AND FINISHED GOODS MANUFACTURER

INTRODUCTION

In the past, tracking industry trends and regulations fell squarely on the finished goods manufacturer.  Supply chains operated within defined borders and brands did business within specific regions. Today, the globalization of the personal care market, the speed at which consumer trends come and go, the plethora of government regulations and the growing demand for cosmeceutical products collectively create an environment which increases responsibility on the ingredient supplier to understand regulatory trends and requirements. This article reflects on the complex global regulatory environment as it relates to current and emerging standards for cosmetics ingredients and presents a supplier’s perspective on establishing a cost-effective quality management system for ingredients used in a wide range of applications.

MOVING TARGETS 

As demonstrated in Figure 1, much of the cosmetics industry lacks an overarching global sta ...