On October 15, during the Cosmetic 360 trade show in Paris, European Commission Vice President Stéphane Séjourné met with several executives from the French cosmetics industry to discuss the sector’s current challenges. The meeting was organized at the initiative of the Cosmetic Valley Competitiveness Cluster and the French Federation of Beauty Companies (FEBEA).
A major economic force in France and across Europe, the cosmetics industry is increasingly concerned about growing threats to its business. Industry leaders cite the proliferation of European regulations, new U.S. customs duties, and reduced consumer spending in China as key challenges. In an environment of intensified global competition, these factors are weighing on a sector that supports 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in France and nearly 3 million across Europe.
International trade and regulations
In response to these challenges, representatives of the cosmetics industry have presented a set of proposals contained in the FEBEA Beauty Industry Package, a strategic roadmap endorsed by nearly 80 business leaders to reinforce the competitiveness and influence of the sector in France and Europe.
On the trade front, the industry is calling for the European Commission to stimulate international exports through new free trade agreements (with Indonesia, India, etc.) and to consolidate the European market by further facilitating the movement of products manufactured in Europe.
On the regulatory front, the sector is calling for a simplification of the existing framework and for fair, evidence-based treatment supported by transparent impact assessments. The Omnibus Chemistry and Cosmetics Regulation and the new Urban Wastewater Directive are of particular concern.
Manufacturers are also calling for stronger action against illegal practices—such as counterfeiting and illicit marketing methods—particularly by holding accountable the digital platforms that enable them.
“The cosmetics sector places great trust and hope in the European Commission to support our companies amid rising global competition and increasingly complex regulations. That’s why we are calling for the industry to be given the means to maintain its global leadership,” said Emmanuel Guichard, General Delegate of FEBEA.
"To stay in the race, our sector wants to count on the support of the European Union, which should make this one of its strategic priorities," adds Marc-Antoine Jamet, President of Cosmetic Valley.
A European strategy for the cosmetics industry?
In response, Stéphane Séjourné assured that the European Commission is determined to accelerate industrial competitiveness by acting on three levers: regulatory simplification, protecting the internal market against unfair competition, and supporting demand. According to him, the Industrial Accelerator Act, the Chemical Omnibus (Cosmetics component), the Environmental Omnibus, and the diversification of free trade agreements are steps in this direction.
"Given the challenges both internationally and on the internal market, structuring the strategic dialogue with the cosmetics sector is essential," he concluded.
