Reference

Korean Beauty Manufacturing Glossary

The OEM/ODM, regulatory, and quality terms you'll meet when sourcing cosmetics and supplements from Korea — in plain English.

CGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice): The 'current' GMP terminology used by the US FDA and in supplement manufacturing, emphasizing that practices must reflect up-to-date standards. In cosmetics sourcing it is often used interchangeably with ISO 22716 / GMP.
Challenge Test (Preservative Efficacy Test): A microbiological test that verifies a product's preservative system can withstand contamination over its shelf life. Required for most water-based cosmetics and an important safety step before mass production.
COA (Certificate of Analysis): A document from the manufacturer certifying that a batch meets its specifications — covering tests such as appearance, pH, viscosity, and microbial limits. Buyers request COAs to verify quality per production batch.
CPNP (Cosmetic Products Notification Portal): The EU's mandatory online portal where every cosmetic product must be notified before being placed on the market. Notification is handled by the Responsible Person and requires product, formula, and safety information.EU CPNP registration guide
CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report): The EU safety assessment that must be completed by a qualified safety assessor before a cosmetic can be sold. It forms the core of the Product Information File and evaluates ingredients, exposure, and stability. Required for the EU and, in equivalent form, the UK.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice): A system of processes and documentation that ensures products are consistently produced and controlled to quality standards. For cosmetics, the recognized standard is ISO 22716; for dietary supplements there are separate GMP requirements.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points): A preventive food-safety management system used in supplement and functional-food manufacturing to identify and control hazards. Relevant when sourcing ingestible beauty products such as collagen drinks or stick packs from Korea.Korean collagen drink OEM guide
INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients): The standardized naming system for cosmetic ingredients used on labels worldwide. An accurate INCI list is required for regulatory notification in every major market and is the reference point for checking restricted or banned ingredients.
ISO 22716: The international Good Manufacturing Practice standard specifically for cosmetics, covering production, control, storage, and shipment. It is effectively a baseline expectation for export-ready Korean cosmetic manufacturers and is referenced by both EU and US frameworks.
MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety): South Korea's cosmetics and pharmaceuticals regulator. MFDS sets the manufacturing, safety, and labeling standards that Korean OEM/ODM factories operate under, including the rules for functional (quasi-drug) cosmetics. Buyers benefit because MFDS compliance is a strong baseline quality signal.MFDS registration explained
MoCRA (Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act): The 2022 US law that overhauled FDA cosmetic oversight. It introduced facility registration, product listing, a Responsible Person, adverse-event reporting, and safety substantiation. Brands importing Korean cosmetics into the US must ensure their supply chain meets MoCRA requirements.FDA & MoCRA import guide
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest number of units a manufacturer will produce in a single order, usually set per SKU. Korean private-label MOQs commonly start around 1,000–2,000 units, and custom formulas often start higher. MOQ is one of the first things to verify, because it drives both your upfront cost and per-unit price.Korean OEM MOQ explained
MSDS / SDS (Safety Data Sheet): A document detailing a product or ingredient's safety, handling, and transport information. Often required for shipping and customs clearance when importing cosmetics or their components.
OBM (Original Brand Manufacturer): A manufacturer that develops, produces, and sells products under its own brand. Relevant to sourcing because some Korean OBMs also offer OEM/ODM services to outside brands, giving you access to formulas already proven in the Korean market.
ODM (Original Design Manufacturer): A model where the manufacturer's R&D team develops a formula to your brief. You specify the product type, target market, and key actives; they formulate it, you approve and brand it. ODM is faster and lower-cost to start than OEM because you are not building a formula from scratch.OEM vs ODM vs Private Label guide
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): A manufacturing model where you supply the formula and the Korean factory produces it under your brand. You own the formula IP and keep full exclusivity, so no other brand can use it. OEM is the right model when a proprietary formula is your core differentiator.OEM vs ODM vs Private Label guide
PIF (Product Information File): The dossier the EU Responsible Person must keep for each cosmetic product, available to authorities on request. It includes the product description, the CPSR, manufacturing method (GMP) statement, claims evidence, and any required test data.
Private Label: Taking an existing, ready-made manufacturer formula and selling it under your own brand and packaging. It is the fastest and lowest-cost route to launch because no formulation work is required — but the same base formula may be available to other brands.Skincare private label sourcing
Quasi-drug (Functional Cosmetics): A Korean regulatory category for cosmetics that make functional claims — such as whitening, anti-wrinkle, or sun protection. Quasi-drug products require additional MFDS review and approval of their active ingredients, which affects formulation options, claims, and lead time.
Responsible Person (RP): A legal entity established in the EU (and separately in the UK) that is accountable for a cosmetic product's compliance — notification, safety documentation, and labeling. A non-EU brand must appoint an RP based in the region to sell there.
Stability Test: Testing that confirms a formula stays safe and effective over its shelf life under various temperature and storage conditions. Stability testing is a major driver of lead time for custom (ODM/OEM) formulas, often adding several weeks to months.Korean OEM lead time explained
White Label: A generic, finished product that multiple brands can rebrand and sell as their own. Closely related to private label; the term 'white label' usually implies a more standardized, off-the-shelf product with minimal customization beyond branding.

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