The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) in Muntinlupa City, the Philippines, announced it has scheduled training for cosmetic manufacturers, importers and distributors regarding the implementation of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cosmetic Directive and post-market activities.
The ASEAN group agreed to harmonize its cosmetic regulatory scheme and this decision went into effect in January 2008. The 10 nations that are part of the ASEAN group include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The harmonization into a single Cosmetic Directive has the benefits of enhanced cooperation between the countries, eliminating trade restrictions, and ensuring safety, quality and claimed benefits for all products. This scheme was agreed upon in 2003 and planned to take effect in 2008.
In a recent announcement, the BFAD called on all manufacturers, traders, importers and distributors of cosmetic products, including soap products, to be part of the training. This training is aimed to familiarize those in the cosmetic industry of the updated guidelines for the implementation of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive.
Priority will reportedly be given to SPAs, soap and cosmetic manufacturers, traders, importers and distributors that are nonmembers of the different Cosmetic Association. The one-day training is scheduled for May 20, 2008, at the BFAD annex building.
For more information on the training session and the ASEAN Directive, visit the BFAD Web site.
