PRESIDENT�S REPORT 2007

							PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2007

In the year 2006, CTFA Malaysia achieved significant breakthrough in our effort to provide the
best business environment to all our members and to the growth of the Malaysian cosmetic
industry in general.

After 10 years of top priority influencing work at all levels of govt. and forums; from National
Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) administrators to ASEAN Cosmetic Harmonization
Committee (ACC) to the Malaysian Health Minister himself; the Ministry of Health (MOH) finally
announced the reclassification of External Personal Care (EPC) products to Cosmetic effective 1
Jan 2007. In the 10 years, we moved progressively from getting short term wins (exemptions,
relaxations, process fast tracks) to this classification change. EPC products can now be registered
as cosmetic with 30 working days vs. 12 months a year ago. There are also benefits in less
restriction and less complexity for advertising such products.

Another significant decision made by MOH in 2006 is to move cosmetic control from product
registration to notification in 2008. This process simplification will shorten regulatory clearance
timing further. Nevertheless, with the notification process, MOH is expected to be more active in
Post Marketing Surveillance on cosmetics in the market. CTFA took the initiative to form a new
sub-committee, Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) that leads all training activities – to acquire
PMS expertise and deployment to members and industry players. This work will intensify as we
move closer to the implementation date of the new framework in Jan 2008.

The implementation of control on medical devices by Ministry of Health (currently voluntary) is
also affecting CTFA members; especially those that imports devices for their beauty salons.
Acknowledging the need to have closer communication with the ministry, CTFA proactively
approached the Director of Engineering Services Division for a briefing and dialogue specific to
concerns from the beauty industry. Another step taken was to organize a visit by the Head of
Cosmetic Unit and officers from Medical Practices Division to a beauty salon of one of our
members. The officers were briefed, with demonstration, on the common types of devices used
in a beauty salon. We believe this effort is important in building understanding on cosmetic
devices.

In the year 2007, the top priority for CTFA is to support MOH’s initiative to re-draft the Cosmetic
Guidelines that meets ASEAN Cosmetic Directive requirements and to support its deployment to
the cosmetic industry and regulators across Malaysia. We will also need to continue working with
the ministry on cosmetic devices and preparation of salon operators for future controls on their
businesses.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the CTFA board and members for the full
support given to all our activities throughout the year. We look forward for more contributions in
2007.


ZULHAIMI ABDUL HAMID
PRESIDENT CTFA