Regulatory compliance is crucial in cosmetics manufacturing, serving as a foundation for market success and consumer safety. Selecting a private label manufacturing partner adept in navigating complex international regulations not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances your brand's reputation by ensuring peace of mind when it comes to compliance with global standards.

Making the right choice will provide your brand with a solid foundation for building business growth and lasting trust with consumers. Our Quality & Regulatory Director, Richard Keightley, shares a Top ten of the crucial Regulatory Compliance considerations you should be exploring when choosing a private label beauty manufacturing partner for your brand.

1. Regulatory Framework, Product Registration and Proactive Regulatory Forecasting

• Is the beauty manufacturer continually assessing, anticipating and preparing for future regulatory changes and challenges to ensure long-term compliance and market access in all the regions you are retailing in?
• How does the private label manufacturer stay updated with evolving global regulations such as REACH, FDA updates, or specific country regulations impacting personal care products.
• Are they regularly horizon scanning and is the manufacturer interacting with trade associations to stay ahead in compliance?
• What is the manufacturer’s expertise in managing international product registrations and the strategic implications for market entry?

2. Comprehensive Ingredient Compliance

• How does the manufacturer manage raw material data?
• Do they continually reassess this to capture any changes either of the raw material itself or any updates in regulations relating to it?
• What do they do about restricted substances and allergen declarations?
• What process does the manufacturer follow to maintain the compliance of the formula following any changes to raw material regulations?

3. Advanced Labelling and Packaging Compliance

• What pack copy reviews are conducted to ensure legal compliance in multiple regions?
• How are claims on pack substantiated?

4. Enhanced Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Certifications

• Does the private label manufacturer have a GMP certificate?
• Are they able to support compliance with certifications that are aligned with your brand’s values and market needs, such as COSMOS Natural, COSMOS Organic, Cruelty-Free International, PETA, Fair Trade, RSPO, Vegan and Vegetarian?

5. Detailed Safety and Efficacy Protocols

• How closely does the manufacturer’s Regulatory Compliance team work with the R&D team to collaborate on safety and efficacy protocols?

6. Comprehensive Adverse Event Reporting Systems

• What processes does the private label manufacturer have in place to manage product complaints?

7. Audit and Inspection Excellence

• What standards does the manufacturer comply to and what is their audit history?

8. Advanced Data Management and Cybersecurity

• What measures has the manufacturer put in place to protect sensitive regulatory and operational data relating to the brands they partner?

9. FDA Registration

• If your product falls into a US FDA monograph, is the manufacturing partner able to satisfy the legal requirements for that product?

10. Collaborating for Success

• How does the manufacturer approach collaborative working processes to meet the specific needs of the brands they partner?

We hope you find these questions a useful starting point for discussions

As a leader in private label beauty manufacturing, we pride ourselves on supporting brands with every aspect of their product development and production. To explore how top-tier regulatory expertise can enhance the quality and compliance of your products and future-proof your strategy for scale and success, please get in touch. We’d love to chat.  

Richard Keightley first joined THG LABS as a development chemist more than twenty years ago. Fast forward several decades and many roles later which have seen him working in all areas of the business from NPD through to scale up and manufacturing, he is now THG LABS Regulatory and Quality Director with a remit which includes both our UK and US facilities.

Richard’s role encompasses all areas of compliance including; Global Cosmetic Regs and OTC requirements, claims substantiation, advertising media, product safety, REACh and other chemical legislation.  It also incorporates supplier approval and monitoring ensuring that suppliers working with THG LABS meet our strict ethical and quality requirements.  Providing advice to our beauty customers and suppliers, Richard and his team at work closely with our in-house experts in Marketing, R&D, Production and Supply.  His broad experience in the world of beauty gives him an excellent insight into requirements and aspirations within the cosmetics industry value chain, enabling him to influence sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of products we produce for world-leading global brands.