JAKARTA, Indonesia—The Indonesian Cosmetic Association (Perkosmi) is asking for an exemption on cosmetics and herbal medicine products from the ASEAN-China free trade agreement (FTA), set to take effect Jan. 1, the Jakarta Globe reported. At issue are questions about the safety and quality of cosmetics and ingredients from China.
The article quoted Putri K Wardani, chairwoman of the industrial section of Perkosmi, who stated: “We want the implementation of the ASEAN-China FTA postponed until there is a strict supervisory system on cosmetics and jamu [herbal medicine] imports, especially those from China … It is not because we are not ready. The question is our products are even now having to compete with illegal Chinese imports which are usually cheaper but of questionable quality.”
Wardani told the paper lower-priced Chinese products now make up almost half the market for cosmetics and jamu; however, the products may not be properly labeled, and she urged the Indonesian Health Ministry and customs office to review the quality and legality of product imports.