On this end-of-year wrap-up, Thomas Myers, president and CEO of the Private Care Merchandise Council (PCPC), outlines the developments that can carry the trade into 2026 and what producers and suppliers ought to prioritize subsequent.
CDU: Trying again on 2025, what do you see as probably the most defining developments for the cosmetics and private care trade, whether or not in coverage, client traits, or international market dynamics?
Thomas Myers: 2025 has been a defining 12 months for our trade. First, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) lately introduced a proposal so as to add bemotrizinol (BEMT) to the over-the-counter sunscreen monograph as Typically Acknowledged as Protected and Efficient (GRASE). This regulatory milestone marks the primary new UV filter accepted as GRASE in america in greater than 20 years, a vital development for the cosmetics and private care merchandise trade and shoppers.
The passage of H.R. 5371 was one other main milestone, securing full-year funding for FDA. This motion ensures that the company has the mandatory sources to safeguard public well being and foster innovation.
The laws additionally reauthorized the Over-the-Counter Monograph Consumer Payment program via 2030, together with new language from the SAFE Sunscreen Requirements Act, permitting FDA to contemplate broader scientific proof for sunscreen security and efficacy—a important step in strengthening pores and skin most cancers prevention and advancing non-animal testing strategies.
Additionally, H.R. 5371 included devoted funding for FDA to implement key provisions of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022, enabling FDA to proceed constructing the infrastructure essential to help a modernized regulatory framework for cosmetics.
Earlier this 12 months, PCPC welcomed the introduction of the SAFE Sunscreen Requirements Act, a bipartisan effort to modernize U.S. sunscreen regulation by streamlining the approval of recent UV filters. This progress improves entry to science-backed solar safety and helps alternate options to animal testing.
We additionally recommended the reintroduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act, a important transfer towards ending new cosmetics testing on animals and accelerating using cutting-edge, humane security assessments—advancing our trade’s long-standing objective of cruelty-free innovation.
On the worldwide stage, commerce continued to form our market panorama. The US-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA) performed a pivotal function in preserving built-in North American provide chains and harmonized requirements. Commerce throughout the area reached $10.1 billion and a 39% enhance since 2020, underscoring the significance of those frameworks in driving competitiveness and innovation.
Shoppers additionally continued to affect our trade’s path: Sustainability, ingredient transparency and digital engagement more and more formed product improvement and labeling. On the identical time, expectations for eco-conscious packaging and personalised experiences pushed corporations to evolve rapidly.
Collectively, these developments inform a transparent story: our trade isn’t just responding to regulatory change and moral imperatives; we’re main with innovation, incomes client belief and positioning ourselves for continued progress within the 12 months forward.
CDU: As MoCRA implementation continues, what have been the largest classes realized for producers and suppliers, and the way is PCPC working with FDA to make sure clean and sensible compliance in 2026?
Thomas Myers: PCPC and our member corporations totally help MoCRA as a result of it ensures a contemporary, science-based regulatory framework for cosmetics. As MoCRA implementation progresses, we proceed to observe the upcoming guidelines on perfume allergens and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Additionally, noting that the lately handed H.R. 5371 mandates a report back to Congress on ongoing rulemakings associated to GMP and perfume allergen labeling. Certainly one of our high priorities is making certain that the FDA gives clear, well timed steerage so companies of all sizes can comply. We now have geared up our members with sources to navigate these modifications and stay in shut dialog with FDA to help sensible and well timed steerage.
Lots of our member corporations have already met key MoCRA necessities, resembling facility registration and product itemizing necessities, which, in line with FDA’s itemizing since December 18, 2023, are 12,049 and 784,270, respectively. We proceed to observe the regulatory course of to make sure the foundations stay clear and workable.
CDU: Sustainability expectations now lengthen past packaging to full value-chain transparency. How is PCPC serving to corporations credibly talk progress with out falling into “greenwashing” traps?
Thomas Myers: A number of PCPC member corporations combine sustainability into all the lifecycle of their merchandise, together with ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and end-of-life issues. Our work focuses on sharing finest practices, clarifying evolving regulatory expectations and equipping members with sources to guage the environmental and social impacts throughout the total product lifecycle.
We additionally present boards to help member corporations with packaging-related points, for instance, our Packaging Job Power, the place we advance member priorities on state Prolonged Producer Duty (EPR) legal guidelines.
Lots of our member corporations proceed to execute clear, complete sustainability methods. For instance, one such firm publicly studies every thing from the water supply utilized in its formulation to carbon emissions offsetting, mapped out in its sustainability report.
CDU: Innovation stays the lifeblood of this trade. What rising applied sciences or ingredient traits are you most enthusiastic about heading into 2026, and what function does PCPC play in supporting accountable innovation?
Thomas Myers: A number of forces proceed to outline the place magnificence innovation is headed, together with transformative applied sciences and evolving ingredient approaches. Mixed, they mirror an trade that’s science-driven, international and values-oriented.
On the know-how aspect, we’re seeing progress throughout a number of areas like biotechnology and digital analysis and improvement (R&D). Biotechnological instruments, together with precision fermentation, are enabling extra sustainable and scalable sourcing of high-performing elements.
On the identical time, machine studying (ML) and different AI-enabled platforms help many alternative elements from early-stage ingredient design to predictive security assessments and personalised product improvement. Blockchain functions are rising as effectively, with promising use circumstances in supply-chain transparency and lifecycle evaluation that may strengthen sustainability and belief.
Constructing on the momentum of the current FDA approval of BEMT, the primary UV filter accepted in additional than 20 years, we hope and count on to see simplified regulatory pathways that enable extra trendy UV filters to be proposed and accepted by corporations for inclusion in sunscreens within the U.S.
As a part of the regulatory approval course of, a big space of scientific development is New Method Methodologies (NAMs) and Subsequent-Era Danger Evaluation, which PCPC continues to advance and advocate for each technological progress and regulatory acceptance.
Enhancements in vitro, in silico, and exposure-modeling instruments—together with ML-supported strategies—are offering extra human-relevant data and serving to guarantee security assessments that don’t depend on animal testing. Our engagement with international regulators is centered on making certain these approaches are match for goal, scientifically sturdy and harmonized to profit each trade and shoppers.
CDU: Workforce improvement and variety stay top-of-mind throughout industries. How is PCPC serving to to arrange the subsequent technology of leaders and guarantee equitable progress alternatives throughout the sweetness and private care sector?
Thomas Myers: We’re dedicated to rising expertise and shaping the way forward for magnificence and private care merchandise. We create alternatives to be taught, lead and join for trade professionals at each stage of their profession. By way of training, networking and energetic committee engagement, we assist the subsequent technology of leaders construct abilities, discover mentors and contribute to the regulatory and scientific work that retains our trade sturdy.
We’re proud to acknowledge rising stars with applications like our Early Profession Microbiologist Award, which elevates rising scientific expertise shaping product security and innovation. We additionally have fun leaders who champion inclusivity and push the boundaries of innovation throughout magnificence and private care with our signature Madam C.J. Walker Award. By nurturing expertise pipelines and supporting profession progress, we guarantee our trade stays vibrant, aggressive and reflective of the shoppers we serve.
CDU: In the event you needed to summarize your outlook for 2026 in a single phrase, what would it not be, and what offers you probably the most optimism about the place this trade is headed?
Thomas Myers: In a single phrase: Innovation with affect, driving jobs, U.S. financial progress and offering protected, high quality merchandise in 2026.
Our trade will proceed to play a important function in supporting jobs, contributing to the financial system and offering protected, high quality merchandise in 2026. The success of the cosmetics and private care merchandise trade is made doable by the dedication of specialists throughout science, regulation and security who generously share their information and experience to strengthen our trade.
On the identical time, their innovation and technological developments are shaping a dynamic future, increasing what’s doable by way of security and efficacy, and elevating the merchandise we carry to market. Shoppers will be assured within the significant progress we’re making in the present day and the sturdy, accountable trade we’re constructing for tomorrow.
