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Journal
News, insights and behind the scenes of our cosmetic laboratory in Tunisia.
Regulation and quality · 1 November 2026 · 8 min
Yes, cosmetic GMP are mandatory to place a product on the European Union market: Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 requires them, and ISO 22716 makes it possible to demonstrate compliance. Certification remains voluntary, but partners often ask for it. This article provides a checklist to vet a laboratory and a Tunisia and export perspective.
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Launching your brand · 1 November 2026 · 8 min
A good cosmetic brand name is distinctive, available and registrable. It is chosen in four steps: define the positioning, create the name, check prior rights with INNORPI, then register the trade mark. The name must also respect the rules on claims, as Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013 covers names and trade marks. Tunisian registration only protects you in Tunisia: plan for export from the start.
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Export · 1 November 2026 · 8 min
Yes, Tunisian origin brings concrete advantages to a foreign brand: Tunisian industrial products are exported to the EU at zero customs duty, with rules of origin revised since 1 March 2025. But “Made in Tunisia” is not a guarantee of quality, the national label does not yet cover cosmetics, and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies as anywhere else.
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Export · 1 November 2026 · 8 min
Halal cosmetics are products formulated and manufactured according to halal rules: no ethyl alcohol, no non-compliant animal-derived ingredients, no animal testing. A cosmetic is not halal by default. The brand documents the formula, the raw materials and the process, then chooses a certifier recognised in the target country. Indonesia extends its requirements to cosmetics from 18 October 2026.
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Investment and e-commerce · 1 November 2026 · 7 min
To sell cosmetics online, choose the channel according to your brand’s maturity and the product’s compliance, not according to trends. Start with one or two products and a single channel. Whatever the channel, prepare the INCI list, appearance-based claims, the Product Information File and the CPNP notification for the European Union.
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Investment and e-commerce · 1 November 2026 · 7 min
The Tunisian cosmetics market is worth about 1.77 bn TND, or 1.6% of GDP, according to Team France Export. It has about 774 companies, of which 60 are structured. Exports are estimated at 225 MD at the end of 2024, then 270 MD mentioned in January 2026. Promising avenues are natural cosmetics, parapharmacy and exports to Africa. Always cite the source and date of each figure.
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Regulation and quality · 1 November 2026 · 9 min
A cosmetic claim is permitted when it meets the common criteria of Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013 and is backed by evidence in the PIF (Product Information File). Promises to treat or cure, and mentions of approval by an authority, should be avoided. To export to the EU, link each wording to a document in the file and validate it with the Responsible Person.
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Regulation and quality · 1 November 2026 · 9 min
The cosmetic product information file (PIF) is the file the Responsible Person keeps for every product placed on the EU market, under Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. It includes the product description and the safety report, and is kept for ten years after the last batch. The laboratory supplies the manufacturing elements; the Responsible Person established in the EU, whether the brand or a designated third party, remains responsible for the complete file. Informative article.
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Launching your brand · 1 November 2026 · 9 min
A cosmetic label must carry the particulars of Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: Responsible Person and address, country of origin, nominal content, date of minimum durability or PAO, precautions for use, batch number, product function and INCI list. Manufacturing in Tunisia does not exempt you from these requirements when selling in Europe. This informational article details each item, the symbols, distributor checks and a pre-print checklist.
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Export · 1 November 2026 · 14 min
To export Tunisian cosmetics, four regions stand out: Europe (France, Germany, Spain), Libya and the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa driven by the AfCFTA, and the Gulf and Middle East. The sector’s exports reached about 225 million dinars in 2024. Each market has its own rules: a Responsible Person and CPNP notification in the EU, local registration elsewhere. Choose your first country by weighing demand, regulatory complexity and your distribution capacity.
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Investment and e-commerce · 1 November 2026 · 13 min
Investing in Tunisia’s cosmetics industry can be justified in 2026. According to La Presse (March 2025), the sector has about 774 companies and its exports reached about 225 million dinars at the end of 2024. Local flora and market access are strengths. The 25% consumption duty, however, weighs on the domestic market. Whether the project makes sense depends on the entry model (factory, contract manufacturing or brand) and the target countries.
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Formulation · 1 November 2026 · 14 min
Custom cosmetic formulation means creating an exclusive formula from your specification. R&D proceeds in stages: brief, choice of ingredients, prototypes, stability and compatibility tests, industrial scale-up, then the regulatory file (PIF, CPSR, CPNP). At each stage it balances performance, stability, cost and compliance. At Oppenheimer Lab, allow 6 to 12 months, with small batches negotiable, from 100 to 200 units.
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