GMP FOR COSMETIC PRODUCTS (ISO 22716)
SGS
11-Mar-2004 - L'Oréal, the world's largest cosmetics group, is to set up a research & development (R&D) centre in Shanghai following the group's success in China. L'Oréal's chinese business recorded the highest growth for the international giant in 2003 when sales soared by 69.3 per cent to €148 million, writes Claire Johnston.
09-Mar-2004 - A rise in global demand for titanium dioxide - a natural sourced pigment used in cosmetics and suncream - has led Millennium Chemicals to introduce a price increase for its Tiona titanium dioxide (TiO2) products sold in Asia, Africa, America and the Middle East.
05-Mar-2004 - OT Over Time - a new company founded by former Procter & Gamble employees - thinks it has found a niche market in the highly competitive personal care sector. The US company is to target 'tween' boys between 9 and 16 years old.
04-Mar-2004 - UK chemical stalwart Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) will spin off the food ingredients arm of its struggling flavour and fragrance business Quest to Irish ingredients group Kerry. The move is part of Quest's attempt to refocus its efforts on its core flavour and fragrance business and restore its profitability.
03-Mar-2004 - L'Oréal may be seeking to acquire Alberto-Culver to ward off competition in the US hair-care market. With the acquisitions of Clairol in 2001 and Wella last year, Procter & Gamble has made it clear that it is trying to usurp L'Oreal as the global leader in hair-care products.
27-Feb-2004 - In the last five years an increase in average price has allowed dollars to exceed unit sales in skincare and make-up in the US, reports the NPD Group. The sale of prestige beauty products rose by two per cent to €6 billion in 2003 despite fragrance sales continuing to suffer.
26-Feb-2004 - Avon Products is to closely follow developments in China this year for a change in direct-selling legislation. Avon - the world's largest direct seller of cosmetics to consumers - says it is ready to resume direct-sales in the world's most populous country if the Chinese government permits it.
24-Feb-2004 - Demand for cosmetic and toiletry chemicals is to increase 5 per cent a year to $6.8 billion in 2008, reports a new US study. Advances will be driven by the growing use of active ingredients designed to enhance appearance and counter the effects of aging.
19-Feb-2004 - L'Oréal has opened a new manufacturing plant in India with a production capacity of up to 100 million units per year. The new factory is to supply India - where L'Oréal sales grew by 33.4 per cent in 2003 - and other neighbouring Asian markets.
18-Feb-2004 - France's perfume and cosmetics industry has reported a domestic and global sales increase of 1.6 per cent for 2003. Findings show that the French remain the world's top users of cosmetics and fragrances with half a milion bath and shower products sold daily.
12-Feb-2004 - Claims that products are 'dermatologically tested' are confusing and potentially misleading, say researchers. Health Which? findings show that there needs to be an industry-wide definition for what the claim actually means.
10-Feb-2004 - CyBio subsidiary CyBio Screening and BioTeSys have teamed up to produce a new biochemical testing system for the biological profiling of cosmetic ingredients. The new system offers a government-approved alternative to animal testing.
06-Feb-2004 - Palomar Medical Technologies - a leading researcher and developer of light-based systems for hair removal - has announced an 85-fold increase in net profits for its year end financial results. Over the past eight years the trend towards light-based cosmetics has steadily grown with the market expected to expand further this year.
02-Feb-2004 - Sun Protection Factor (SPF) cosmetics are expected to flood the market this year following the heatwave in Europe last summer. Cosmetic brands - such as Artdeco and Nivea - have already announced their plans to introduce new 2004 product lines.
29-Jan-2004 - L'Oréal has signed an agreement to purchase Chinese cosmetics and skincare brand, Yue-Sai, from US giant Coty. The deal underlines the French company's growing presence in the Asian market.
26-Jan-2004 - Poland's public finance committee has recommended the government to keep the excise taxes on cosmetics. The decision - reached by a marginal vote - makes the country the only EU member state to harbour such a duty.
16-Jan-2004 - Innovation in cosmetics has taken an erotic turn. Pop singer Jessica Simpson has launched a new line of beauty products that features whipped body cream and chocolate body gloss.
15-Jan-2004 - The European Commission has announced it is to further assess the risk of chemicals released from consumer products. The statement comes following findings earlier this week that suggest cosmetic chemicals may be linked to breast cancer.
07-Jan-2004 - Procter & Gamble is to advertise its cosmetics range on the reality television programme Survivor next year. The product placement deal is one of the largest in television history and highlights the latest in cosmetic marketing strategies.
07-Jan-2004 - UK supermarket group Tesco is making a bid to undercut health and beauty retailer Boots by launching a €100m price reduction program. With an everything under one roof policy more customers are turning to supermarkets to purchase cosmetics.
18-Dec-2003 - Cosmed is set to double the number of its store outllets in the next three years in Taiwan in order to catch up with the country's leading cosmetics leader Watsons.
17-Dec-2003 - The L'Oréal group has signed an agreement to try and acquire the Chinese skincare brand Mininurse. With five per cent market share, the skincare brand is claimed to be one of the top three in China.
15-Dec-2003 - The popularity of cosmetic coolers will almost triple by the end of 2004, according to a Korean manufacturer. The mini-fridge concept, which was launched in Asia in 1997 is set to hit the western market as the latest in bedroom decor.
12-Dec-2003 - In the last five years, the Russian perfume and cosmetics market has been the fastest growing in the world. Sales have increased by 20-25 per cent a year in Russia in comparison with the sales growth in western countries, which has barely reached 3 per cent. Russia is therefore an extremely attractive base for the development of todays cosmetic industry.
05-Dec-2003 - It is always said that it is what's on the inside that counts, but can what's inside make you look better on the outside? A rise in so-called 'cosmeceuticals,' or beauty foods, is about to emerge, reports Mintel. The company, has released its global predictions for new products in 2004, reporting that it is expecting to see a huge increase in beauty added benefits for food.