Regulatory Context

Cosmetics is a flourishing market in the Middle East and exhibits the same growth as the global market. The beauty market is forecasted to reach USD 32.2 billion by 2025, driven by a high level of demand for natural products.

This market is placing more and more importance on the ingredients in cosmetic products due to increasing demand for natural ingredients and business ethics, taking the desire for Halal into consideration. Halal cosmetics can be defined as cosmetic products that do not contain ingredients derived from pork. A product certified as Vegan (link to our certification) is therefore considered to be more attractive in the Middle East.

Any cosmetic product placed on the market in Middle East must comply with the requirements of GSO 1943/2016 for product safety and GSO 2528/2016 for claims. The Gulf Cooperation Council cosmetics legislation closely follows EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. 

The same regulatory standard is applied in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. However, each country has its own competent authority and requires a separate product notification.

How does it work?

The regulatory process performed by BIORIUS consists of a formula review and a label review and follows the above-mentioned regulations to evaluate the safety and the compliance of a product.

The process is thus divided into two phases: the formula review and the label review.

1. Formula Review: An analysis of the formula to determine if the restrictions and prohibitions on ingredients and combinations of ingredients are respected, as well as an analysis of the required documents for the finished product, according to GSO 1943/2016.
   
   Upon completion of the evaluation, a formula review report is issued, which highlights the following elements:
   • Ingredients
   • Percentages of each ingredient
   • Restrictions
   • Requested data for the finished product
   • Expert comments, including any strategic recommendations
   • INCI list
     
2. Label & Claims Review: Evaluation of the product label (required information, symbols and claims) according to GSO 2528/2016.
   
   Upon completion of the evaluation, a label review report is issued, which indicates the following elements:
   • Required elements
   • Presence of required elements (primary packaging, secondary packaging & leaflet)
   • Claims substantiation
   • Expert comments
     
     Corrective actions and remarks are provided for updating the label.