Export cosmetics to the Philippines: rules, labels and duty

Rules to check before you export cosmetics to the Philippines (2), each with its official source.

Official sources checked between 2026-10-09 and 2026-10-24

Duty and FTAs: Three agreements apply: compare the Korea–Philippines FTA (PHKRFTA), the ASEAN–Korea FTA (Form AK) and RCEP rates for your tariff line in the Philippine Tariff Finder and claim the lowest with that agreement’s certificate of origin (issued by Korea Customs or KCCI). finder.tariffcommission.gov.ph, checked 2026-10-09

This is not legal or tax advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm with the official source and a local authority, your importer or an expert before you sell.

• Main rule for cosmetics: Philippines: a cosmetic is placed on the market only with a Certificate of Product Notification from FDA Philippines, filed in the cosmetic e-portal by a Philippine distributor, trader or manufacturer that holds an FDA licence to operate (LTO), so a Korean brand files through its local partner. The fee is Php 500 plus a 1% legal research fee for one year of validity and Php 100 per extra variant; FDA states 17 working days for processing. fda.gov.ph, checked 2026-10-15
• ASEAN ban on ingredients of human origin: The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, applied by Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and the other ASEAN countries, lists cells, tissues or products of human origin among the substances a cosmetic must not contain (Annex II, Part 1, ref. 416). Human stem cell culture media, exosomes from human cells and human placenta extracts cannot be notified or sold there; exosomes and stem cell extracts from plants or microbes are not caught, so check the source on the raw-material specification before your importer notifies the product. Your company does it · go.gov.sg, checked 2026-10-24
• Open the checklist
• Work out the export price
• Same product, other countries: United States
• Same product, other countries: EU
• Same product, other countries: Japan
• Same product, other countries: China
• Same product, other countries: Vietnam
• Same product, other countries: Thailand
• Same product, other countries: Malaysia
• Same product, other countries: Singapore
• Same product, other countries: Australia
• Same product, other countries: Canada
• Same product, other countries: Brazil
• Sources: fda.gov.ph, checked 2026-10-15
• Sources: go.gov.sg, checked 2026-10-24
• Sources: finder.tariffcommission.gov.ph, checked 2026-10-09

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