Cosmetic Product Registration in the Philippines | FDA CPN Guide

The Food and Drug Administration (Philippines) (FDA Philippines), formerly the Bureau of Food and Drugs, is the main authority responsible for ensuring that health and consumer products— including cosmetics—are safe, properly labeled, and of good quality. It operates under the Department of Health (Philippines).

For cosmetics, the Philippines follows the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, a regional agreement that harmonizes cosmetic regulations across Southeast Asian countries. Under this system:

Companies must first secure a License to Operate (LTO) before they are allowed to legally engage in activities such as manufacturing, importing, distributing, or selling cosmetic products. This license confirms that the company meets FDA requirements for facilities, personnel, and quality systems.

Once a company has an LTO, individual cosmetic products typically undergo Cosmetic Product Notification (CPN) rather than pre-market approval. This means products can be placed on the market once they are properly notified, but they must still comply with safety, ingredient, and labeling rules.