Cosmetics industry gets a regulatory makeover

THE country’s cosmetics industry, estimated to reach $30 billion by 2025, is booming. But behind the gloss lies a persistent concern — product safety. The Centre’s recent notification of stricter rules for cosmetic products marks a timely and necessary intervention to restore consumer confidence and regulate a largely self-monitored industry. Under the new rules, all cosmetics products must undergo mandatory testing for heavy metals and microbial contamination. Clearer labelling norms have also been introduced to ensure transparency about ingredients, expiry dates and usage guidelines. These reforms echo regulatory models like the US FDA’s Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), bringing Indian oversight closer to international standards.