The Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines (CCIP) successfully held its 3rd General Membership Meeting (GMM) on Oct. 9, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center during the Beauty + Health & Wellness Convention. The timely forum, titled "FDA Frontline: What's New & What's Next?", gave cosmetics stakeholders the rare opportunity to engage directly with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) experts on pressing regulatory and compliance issues.
The event was hosted by Robi Uy, CCIP's Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Unilever Philippines, Inc.
Key FDA insights
The session opened with Ms. Esperanza Almenanza, who provided a detailed presentation on Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS). She walked participants through the full PMS process -- covering product verification, consumer complaints, random sampling, and advertisement monitoring. Almenanza shared that PMS extends beyond labels to marketing materials, ensuring brands uphold responsible claims.
She reminded members not to fear FDA notices, as long as companies remain transparent and submit clear corrective and preventive actions. Almenanza also clarified guidelines on product recalls, explaining that each case is treated with urgency based on risk severity, with consumer protection as the ultimate goal.
Next, Mr. Ralph Christofer Manapat discussed the Certificate of Product Notification (CPN) process, providing a step-by-step guide on FDA's online portal, from account setup under CCHUHSRR to navigating the cosmetics and TCCA notification systems.
Open forum and industry dialogue
An engaging open forum followed, moderated by Janina Gutierrez-Tan, CCIP Executive Vice President for External Affairs, CEO of JRadiance Corporation, and brand owner of HairReve. Manapat and Almenanza were joined by Ms. Florlita Gabuna to address questions raised by CCIP member companies.
The FDA representatives acknowledged concerns on delays and encouraged members to route follow-ups through the Food and Drug Action Center (FDAC) to allow FDA officers to focus on verification processes. They also confirmed that Functional Pop (F-Pop) Cosmetics, a category inspired by the Korean regulatory model, is under study, with forthcoming guidelines that balance ASEAN directives with functional cosmetics classifications.
When asked about customs clearance requirements, the panelists clarified that while FDA has no direct control over the Bureau of Customs, they continue to release public advisories reiterating FDA requirements for cosmetic imports. CCIP was encouraged to support members in negotiating BOC concerns beyond FDA-mandated documents.
Industry commitment
Despite acknowledging resource constraints, the FDA panel was commended for their candid responses and willingness to collaborate.
CCIP President Christine Michelle Reyes emphasized the significance of the session, calling it a "rare opportunity where cosmetics stakeholders can speak directly with FDA officials." She reaffirmed CCIP's mission to make compliance not just a requirement, but a competitive advantage for its members.
Roberta Estacion, CCIP Vice President for Programs and President of Harem Inc., added that the Internal Affairs Committee is committed to easing member pain points, while reinforcing the need for FDA and industry to work hand in hand.
In closing, host Robi Uy returned to the stage to summarize key takeaways, stressing CCIP's commitment to strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors for the sustainable growth of the Philippine cosmetics industry.
A growing industry
Through the 3rd GMM, CCIP continues its mission of elevating the Philippine cosmetics industry to the global stage while safeguarding consumers. The chamber believes that true progress comes when compliance transforms from a requirement into a driver of innovation, trust, and collective growth.