ASEAN Import Requirements Overview for Japan-Origin Products

ASEAN Cosmetic Directive — harmonised framework

The ACD provides a common technical baseline for cosmetics notification across the ten ASEAN member states:

• Notification, not registration. Each member state operates a notification system — the responsible company (a local importer or distributor) notifies the NCA before placing the product on the market, with the notification confirmed within a defined period.
• Product Information File (PIF). The notifying company holds a PIF including the formulation, safety assessment, GMP information, and claim substantiation. The PIF must be made available to the NCA on request.
• Ingredient lists. The ACD maintains harmonised lists of prohibited and restricted ingredients (Annexes II and III) and positive lists for colorants, preservatives, and UV filters (Annexes IV–VI). National authorities can add country-specific restrictions.
• Local responsible company.The notification holder must be a company established in the destination ASEAN state. Foreign brands appoint local importers or distributors who notify on the brand's behalf.

Country-by-country differences (overview)

Vietnam (DAV — Drug Administration of Vietnam)

Cosmetics notification through DAV under the ACD framework with Vietnam-specific implementation. Food and supplements registered with the Vietnam Food Administration. Vietnamese- language labelling required. CFS commonly requested for both cosmetics and food.

Indonesia (BPOM — National Agency of Drug and Food Control)

Cosmetics notification via the BPOM e-notification system. Food and supplement registration is heavier and category- specific. HALAL certification is mandatory for most consumer cosmetics, food, and supplements under Law 33/2014 as implemented in stages. Indonesian-language labelling required.

Philippines (FDA Philippines)

Cosmetics notification (CPNS) under the ACD framework. Food registration under Republic Act 9711 framework. Tagalog or English labelling generally accepted. The Philippines is the ASEAN member where stickered English labels are most readily accepted at retail.

Thailand (Thai FDA)

Cosmetics notification through Thai FDA under the ACD framework. Food registration in two categories: general food (lighter) and specifically-controlled food including supplements and infant food (heavier, more documentation). Thai-language labelling required. Thai FDA maintains its own ingredient and labelling rules in addition to the ACD harmonised list.

Malaysia (NPRA — National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency)

Cosmetics notification via NPRA under the ACD framework. Food and supplement registration through the Food Safety and Quality Division. HALAL certification (JAKIM) is commercially essential for most consumer products in Malaysia. Bahasa Malaysia labelling required for most products.

Singapore (HSA — Health Sciences Authority)

Cosmetics notification (CPNS) under the ACD framework, with HSA as the NCA. Singapore tends to have the most EU-comparable enforcement and acceptance of EU-format dossiers. Food regulation through the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). English labelling generally accepted.

HALAL — what matters for Japan-origin product

• Indonesia and Malaysia. HALAL certification is either legally required (Indonesia) or commercially essential (Malaysia) for most cosmetics, food, and supplements. The Japanese OEM factory must be HALAL-certified by a body recognised by the destination authority — BPJPH (Indonesia) accepts certificates from MUIS (Singapore), MUI (Indonesia), JAKIM (Malaysia), and a recognised list of third-country bodies including Japanese HALAL certifying organisations.
• HALAL certification scope. Certification is by facility and by product category. Adding a new product family typically requires a new audit or a scope amendment.
• Singapore, Philippines, Thailand. HALAL is not mandatory but a strong commercial differentiator for Muslim-consumer-targeted SKUs.

Customs and trade agreements

• Japan–ASEAN agreements. Japan has bilateral EPAs with most ASEAN member states (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Laos), plus the multilateral RCEP. Preferential tariffs apply for most Japan-origin goods on application of the relevant origin documentation.
• Origin documentation. JCCI-issued Certificates of Origin under the relevant EPA / RCEP, or self-certification where the EPA allows it.
• Customs clearance. Each member state runs its own customs declaration system. The local importer files the declaration; Chinese and English documentation accepted alongside the local language at most ASEAN customs offices.

Practical sequencing for Japan-origin ASEAN launch

1. Decide on the entry-state(s). Multi-country ASEAN launches benefit from harmonised cosmetics dossiers under the ACD but food and supplements need country-by-country adaptation.
2. Identify local importers / distributors with the necessary business licences in each target state.
3. For Indonesia and Malaysia: confirm HALAL certification of the Japanese OEM factory ahead of formal notification.
4. Prepare the PIF and country-specific notification dossiers. For food and supplements, adapt the dossier and labelling for each state.
5. Arrange JCCI origin documentation for the relevant Japan EPA / RCEP route.
6. On arrival, the local importer files the customs declaration; for cosmetics, the notification is already in place; for food and supplements, the import notification is filed.