‘Draft cosmetics act to raise cost of doing business’

The producers of cosmetics and toiletries have expressed their disappointment as the government has recently approved a cosmetics related act without any consultation with the stakeholders.

The draft law has made it mandatory for the cosmetics producers to take licences from both the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), which will create complexities for the business, they said.

The cosmetics producers will now have to take different permissions, including the ones for new product's production, launch and price, according to the draft law.

The cosmetics sellers will also have to take licence from the BSTI and DGDA.

The cosmetics producers said the mandatory licence for the sellers and prior permissions for products' production, launch and price will increase the cost of doing business.

Their comments came today at a seminar on "Proposed Drug and Cosmetics Act-2023: Bangladesh Perspective and Future Impact", organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The draft of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 2023 was approved in the cabinet on February 6.