Cosmetic products in the Philippines are under the unified regulation of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (PFDA, formerly known as the Bureau of Food and Drugs / BFAD). Its core responsibilities include the approval of cosmetic market access, supervision of manufacturing and distribution links, post-market compliance inspections, adverse reaction monitoring, and law enforcement and penalties, to safeguard the quality and safety of cosmetic products on the Philippine market.Official Website of the Regulatory Authority: https://www.fda.gov.ph/
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)
The Philippines adopts the ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme, which is generally consistent with the regulatory frameworks of other ASEAN member states.Definition of cosmetics: Any substance or preparation intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (or with the teeth and mucous membranes of the oral cavity), with the exclusive or main purpose of cleansing, perfuming, modifying appearance, correcting body odour, or protecting/maintaining them in good condition.
① A valid ISO 22716 cosmetic quality management system certificate; ② Local importers/distributors in the Philippines shall hold a valid License to Operate (LTO); ③ Complete registration documentation shall be submitted, including manufacturer qualification information, basic product details, intended use, and Product Information File (PIF), etc.; ④ Full product ingredient formulation list and product labels that comply with Philippine regulatory requirements shall be provided.
English
The LTO is a business authorization issued by the PFDA, and it is a mandatory qualification for local cosmetic manufacturers, importers, exporters, sellers and distributors to carry out relevant business activities in the Philippines.Enterprises shall meet requirements in terms of registration compliance, personnel qualifications, quality management system, facilities and equipment, etc. The LTO will be granted after application submission, document review and on-site inspection (if required).
Apostilled Letter of Authorization (LOA)Product packagingProduct formulationManufacturer’s GMP documentationSafety assessment report and Product Information File (PIF)
1.Notification Procedure
Standard procedure: The applicant submits the cosmetic notification application → The cashier processes the fee payment → The Center for Cosmetics and Household/Urban Hazardous Substances Regulation and Research (CCRR) conducts application review and verification → The Information and Communications Technology Management Department (ICTMD) issues the application acknowledgment → The review of the Product Information File (PIF) is carried out → The applicant downloads the review result → Information of products that pass the review will be published on the official website of the PFDA.
2.Notification Timeline and Official FeesOfficial review timeline: Provided that the submitted documentation is complete and compliant, the competent authority will complete the processing within 14 calendar days.
All fees specified below are denominated in Philippine Peso (PHP).（1）Cosmetic Product ListingInitial application fee: PHP 500.00, with a validity period of 1 year.Renewal fee: PHP 2,500.00, with a validity period of 5 years upon renewal.Variant fee: No applicable variant fee.（2）Cosmetic Product RegistrationInitial application fee: PHP 750.00, with a validity period of 1 year.Renewal fee: PHP 3,750.00, with a validity period of 5 years upon renewal.Variant fee: For the first 6 variants, the fee is PHP 100.00 per variant; for the 7th variant and any subsequent variants, the fee is PHP 50.00 per variant.