ABSTRACT
The regulatory environment for cosmetics in the United States continues to evolve rapidly. This is not due to changes in the US regulatory framework for cosmetics; rather it is the effect of globalization. Globalization impacts cosmetic regulation in two somewhat related ways. First, as manufacturers of both cosmetic raw materials and nished products try to sell their goods in multiple markets, they must abide by the regulations in each market. The United States is just one of the major markets in which companies sell their products. Other large, key markets include the European Union (EU), Japan, and China. The framework developed by the EU has become the model that many countries and regions such as Mexico, Israel, and the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) have gravitated to. As a result, if an ingredient or product is to be compliant on a global, rather than on a national or even regional basis, it must take account of EU requirements. Recently, China has started to have an impact on companies’ overall view of the regulatory landscape, although it has not as yet had a tangible effect on ingredients and products in the United States.
