500 attendees at the 26th COSMED Regulatory Congress, a record!

On April 1 and 2, leaders from COSMED—a professional association representing 1,000 French cosmetics companies, primarily SMEs, micro-enterprises, and mid-sized firms—gathered leading experts in cosmetics regulation in Paris to analyze and anticipate regulatory and standards developments that will shape the sector’s competitiveness in the coming months. Nearly 500 people attended, a record!

From ANSES to the European Commission, including the DGCCRF, the ARPP, and the General Directorate of Customs, all regulatory authorities were present to engage directly with industry representatives. This setup underscored the growing importance of regulatory issues in a sector worth several billion euros. “Cosmetics companies must now navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment, caught between stricter European constraints and divergent international requirements,” emphasized Jean-Marc Giroux, the association’s President, adding “the current crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East is already impacting companies in the sector. 60% of them report being affected, and 25% consider this impact to be very significant, particularly regarding delivery times and raw material prices. 50% of companies are drawing down their inventories.”

Beyond the authorities’ interventions, the conference provided an opportunity to address the day-to-day challenges faced by manufacturers, featuring expert analyses on risk management within Good Manufacturing Practices, the safeguarding of environmental claims in the face of a stricter legal framework, and an overview of feedback from international inspections. An operational program to transform regulatory constraints into drivers of competitiveness. Synthetic chemicals that accumulate in the environment (PFAS) were the focus of a roundtable discussion. It should be noted that as of January 1, 2026—the date the French law regulating them takes effect—the entire cosmetics sector will be affected. This legislation now sets concentration thresholds that must be met in cosmetic products, whether for intentionally added PFAS or unintentional traces resulting from process water, manufacturing processes, packaging, or raw materials. Key questions discussed included: How can PFAS be identified and quantified in formulations? Which analytical protocols should be prioritized? What best practices should be implemented at each stage of the value chain? What measures have already been put in place to ensure compliance?

Focus on the International Market

A conference held amid an uncertain economic climate. In 2025, cosmetics remain France’s second-largest export sector. Over the past 25 years, French exports have surged from 7 to 22.4 billion euros, although a slowdown has been observed over the past year.
In light of market globalization, the program featured several sessions dedicated to regulatory and customs opportunities and challenges in strategic markets such as China, the United States, and the Middle East—three major markets with specific requirements that demand specialized expertise. The presence of the Andean Community and the Japanese association JCIA helped broaden the geographic scope of the discussions.

COSMED: 1,000 member companies!

It should be noted that in 2025, COSMED was recognized by the Ministry of Labor as the representative employer organization for the cosmetics sector within the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Chemical Industries (IDCC44).

“We are now the leading ecosystem in the cosmetics sector,” says Jean-Marc Giroux, “and we contribute to business development by providing shared services (cosmetics regulatory monitoring across 120 countries, issuance of Over-the-Counter Certificates, support for companies at international trade shows, professional training, group purchasing, support for environmental transition, and conference organization. With our 7 Cosmetopoles, we foster closer ties between companies and their regional ecosystem (universities, competitiveness clusters, development agencies, and regional elected officials). Joining Cosmed means becoming part of a network that promotes relationships among all players in the cosmetics industry. ”

For the past 10 years, COSMED has published a reference directory listing the 3,000 players in the sector in France. The main services offered are:
– Monitoring of cosmetic regulations in 120 countries,
– Support for companies exporting through the issuance of free sale certificates and assistance at international trade shows.
– The organization of in-house and inter-company training sessions, as well as webinars.
– The organization of national and regional conferences and events.
– Optimized purchasing through a buyer consortium.
– Guidance for companies on environmental issues.