The rapid evolution of the natural and organics cosmetic market in
Europe and the US is leading to increasing opportunities for
Western companies in the Asian market.
The EU's food industry has joined other sectors in a joint appeal
calling on legislators to scrap amendments to the bloc's waste
policy they say would require "additional and costly analysis".
Responding to the growing incidence of genital malformations in
baby boys, an international conference is being held in Helsinki,
Finland, next month to discuss the possible link with widely used
cosmetic chemicals.
Japanese beauty manufacturer Shiseido is expanding its research and
development centres, opening up facilities in Europe and Asia in an
effort to better appreciate the needs of its customers there and
expand beyond the US and domestic...
Companies will soon have the freedom to choose the size of
packaging they use for most oftheir products, after a set of
restrictive rules were abolished yesterday by EU ministers.
If current economic conditions prevail, the cosmetics market in
Poland should experience steady growth, market analysts predict.
But the issue of tax on personal care products remains a
significant hurdle to overcome.
UK-based Rexam, one of the world's leading consumer packaging
manufacturers, has extended its presence in the central and eastern
European region with the opening of a production facility for home
and personal care packaging...
The European Commission has banned 22 hair dye substances following
research by its Scientific Committee that links certain product to
an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Norway-based packaging company Polimoon has made its biggest
acquisition to date, having announced an agreement to buy Pastohm,
a France-based European-wide manufacturer of beauty, healthcare and
pharmaceutical packaging.
EU and US officials will take joint action worldwide against
counterfeiting and intellectual property theft, an illegal trade
that includes millions of items of fake foodstuffs and drinks.
Estoril, Portugal is the venue for this year's Colipa AGM - one of
the European industry's primary forum. The CosmeticsDesign team
will be covering the event, which this year centres on the
all-important theme of consumer...
The United States is making moves towards introducing stricter
guidelines on the use of chemicals in all industries. The action
comes in response to the introduction of REACH in Europe, which
will see tighter regulations for a number...
Fast economic growth is driving rapid expansion in the Spanish hair
care market, as new segments, such as styling products aimed at
men, grow rapidly in popularity from a small base.
Europen has published a new edition of its guide to the CEN
Packaging Standards - a move that aims to guide personal care
manufacturers through the field of European packaging standards and
regulations.
The EU proposed law regulating chemicals underwent another
transformation yesterday in the hands of the EUs ministers, with
consumer groups condemning the changes as a further watering down
of the law in favour of industry.
The adoption of the new EU chemicals legislation, REACH, by a broad
majority of the European Parliament at first reading has been
welcomed by Colipa, which believes the clarification of the use of
chemicals in cosmetics products will...
Citizens Advisers has released a report examining the European
Union legislation and existing US regulations for the cosmetic
industry, and what the differences mean for companies, consumers
and shareholders.
PAI Partners' purchase of Crown Holdings' international plastic
closures business, most of which is based in Europe, could help
cosmetics companies there if the investment firm is able to make
the unitmore competitive.
Swiss-based Lonza has received European Union approval for one of
its antimicrobial products, Lonzagard Benzethonium Chloride, as a
cosmetic preservative for leave-on personal care products,
writes Simon Pitman.
Latest EU figures show that seizures of counterfeit cosmetics and
perfumes increased by 800 per cent in the period 2002 - 2003,
prompting the European Commission to draft new legislations aimed
at reducing the problem, reports Simon...
European regulators gave their approval to P&G's $57 billion
takeover of Gillette on Friday, paving the way for the deal to be
sealed this autumn, reports Simon Pitman.
Danish packaging company Superfos says it is expanding its
packaging production in Poland as part of a focused growth strategy
that targets all consumer packaging including cosmetics and
toiletries, reports Simon Pitman.
Gillette says it is still planning to finalize its $57 million
merger with Proctor & Gamble this fall, despite complaints from
competitors to anti-competition authorities in Europe. Indeed,
Gillette is so confident about the outcome,...
Procter & Gamble's plans to have the Gillette deal sealed by
the end of the year may have been scuppered following delays by
European regulators and the publication of a report that questions
the fairness of the deal, reports...
US-based Rohm and Haas says that it now has worldwide approval for
its key preservative Neolone. Simon Pitman reports on an
ingredient that is being billed as a viable option to the often
controversial parabens family.
While the Western European market for plastic caps and closures may
be growing, cosmetics and personal care companies will have to be
less choosy when picking their supplier, report Ahmed ElAmin and
Simon Pitman.
The Australian Tea Tree Industry (ATTI)says it is confident that it
can convince EU authorities over the safety of tea tree oil for use
in cosmetics products. The announcement comes following a European
Commission report asking for...
The European Court of Justice has ruled against moves by the French
government to resist a ban on the testing of cosmetics products on
animals by the year 2009. The move will come as a blow to one of
the country's biggest industries...
The European Union has cleared the acquisition of France-based
Marionnaud Parfumerieries by AS Watson, part of Hong Kong
conglomorate Hutchinson Whampoa. The deal wins the group a
controlling stake in Marionnaud, reports Simon Pitman.
The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has slammed
moves by the French government to partially lift the ban on the
testing of cosmetic products on animals.
US pressure group The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, is claiming
victory after L'Oréal, Revlon and Unilever confirmed they have
eliminated certain toxic chemicals from their products, in a move
that has drawn attention to the differences...
In Poland, strong economic growth, low taxes and accession to the
European Union have helped to attract increasing levels of
investment from leading cosmetic and personal care companies
looking to increase their footing in Europe's...
The UK is likely to be the first market in Europe to be hit by the
US fad for oral convenience whitening products. Researchers say
that as British consumers consistently follow American consumer
patterns, the big cosmetic companies...
Cosmetics manufacturers in Canada will soon have to comply with new
labelling regulations about to be implemented by the government
body, Health Canada. Simon Pitman reports.
Carton packaging continues to be significant for the cosmetics
industry, with steady global market growth of 9 per cent in the
period 1998-2003 largely represented by a visible shift towards
secondary packaging for mass market brands.
British women seem most likely to grow old gracefully, accepting
the natural signs of ageing, and creating a more challenging market
for wrinkle creams, suggests a new report.
With thousands of new and updated cosmetics products introduced
into the EU market each year, a new online directory has been set
up to help allay consumer fears over the safety of some cosmetic
products. Tom Armitage reports.
Danish company Dansk Droge has expanded its share of the skincare
market with its acquisition last week of the Poland-based
supplement distributor Amis Medica.
Although Europe is a world leader in chemical production, holding
28 per cent of the world market, its proportion of global trade has
dropped by 4 per cent over the past decade. The time has come to
take action, according to two industry...
79 per cent of people in Great Britain are concerned about the
build up of chemicals in the bodies of people and wildlife,
according to an opinion poll conducted by IPSOS on behalf of the
World Wildlife Fund.
With new EU regulations coming into force on both the testing of
chemicals and cosmetics, the demand for alternatives to animal
experiments has escalated. The European Commission is committed to
a reduction in animal testing, as evidenced...
The Hungarian market for cosmetic and toiletry products is set to
grow by a further 33 per cent, predicts Euromonitor. Accession into
the European Union this week and increased capacity for consumer
spending will boost the country's...
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.
European companies and researchers should share the profits made on
products using exotic plants such as aloe vera and jojoba oil with
the countries of origin, urges a European Commission communication
issued on Friday.
With five million contaminated and unregistered cosmetics being
seized in stores across Thailand this week, counterfeit cosmetics
and perfumes are becoming a serious global issue. As increasing
numbers of fraudsters turn their activities...
The European Commission has given clearance under merger
regulations to the proposed acquisition of French aluminium
producer Pechiney by Alcan of Canada.
Alcan's hostile takeover of French counterpart Pechiney has become
a friendly bid following acceptance of a revised offer for the
company by Pechiney's board. But getting regulatory approval may
prove harder.
A hair care remedy package from Procter & Gamble has paved the
way for anti-trust clearance from the European Commission, allowing
it to go ahead with the acquisition of German group Wella.