Maintaining the quality of your product is essential to consumer safety and the trust that people have in your company. The onus of quality is on the manufacturer. However, depending on the product category there are different degrees of quality standards.
Cosmetics have recommended but not required manufacturing quality guidelines. Personal care and cosmetic products that are classified as over the counter (OTC) drug products, such as sunscreen and fluoride toothpastes, have increased regulatory oversight requiring companies to adopt current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). GMP are quality control standards that align with regulatory demands in the pharma industry.
It provides guidelines for quality manufacturing of products through standardized procedures and regular oversight of facilities, records, staff and overall operations. Quality manufacturing is an essential part of product safety. Cosmetic manufacturers must be concerned about the safety of personal care product ingredients, maintaining quality of facilities and records, and developing good manufacturing practices.
Though GMP is not required by law for cosmetics, that is changing, too. The Modernisation of Cosmetics Regulations Act of 2022 will require cosmetics manufacturers that sell products in the US to follow GMP. Currently, the FDA has not issued any specific guidance on how to follow GMP for cosmetics but according to the new law, the FDA will publish new rule making by 2025 and implementation by 2026. Change is coming. To learn more about GMP standards in the US go to FDA.gov.
