Opportunities in the cosmetics sector need to be identified in order to support local manufacturing companies. This was said by the Chief Director for Chemicals, Cosmetics, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Ms Claudy Steyn. She was speaking at the 2015 National Natural Ingredients Conference that took place at the Saint George Hotel in Pretoria today.

According to Ms Steyn, the use of natural ingredients for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry in South Africa has been identified as a promising sector with opportunities of job creation and export potential.

“The cosmetics industry is a fast changing, cut-throat and harsh business environment which is highly competitive and has substantial endogenous barriers to entry. The industry intrinsically favours larger firms that add value through the development of scientifically validated products, above small and medium firms and new market entrants. While this is true of all monopolistically competitive industries, it is especially true in the cosmetics industry due to the importance of reputation and aspiration,” said Steyn.

She added that the South African government and the dti were strongly committed to supporting new market entrants, small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), new black entrepreneurs and local businesses within the context of the goals set out by the National Development Plan (NDP), the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF) and Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP).

“The cosmetics industry is a particularly hostile and harsh environment for such entrants. This is not a South African phenomenon, but a global phenomenon based on the commercial reality of the cosmetics and personal care market structure and dynamics. Opportunities do exist for smaller players, but understanding market and firm dynamics is crucial to understanding where and how such players can operate profitably,” said Steyn.

She added that the main driver of cosmetic use was the desire to use natural products that have positive biological effects. This represents a market opportunity for the natural ingredients.

“These emerging markets are of strategic importance to the country’s lead manufacturers and the future of the industry, to build the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector and to increase exports of locally value-added natural ingredients,” she stressed.

the dti developed a cosmetic sector strategy which is aimed at alleviating constraints experienced by local cosmetics manufacturing companies.

“The aim of this intervention is to facilitate safety testing of cosmetic products produced in South Africa, so that products will get tested and certified locally by toxicologists. Products that are tested will be more acceptable in export markets. At the same time, local certification will greatly reduce the exorbitant costs that companies currently pay to have their products tested overseas,” said Steyn.

Caption: Ms Claudy Steyn speaking at the dti 2015 Natural Ingredients Conference


Issued by The Department of Trade and Industry