With the availability of counterfeit products, enhancing consumer confidence should be a top priority for cosmetics companies. 

Numbers from Statista show that the beauty and personal care market here in the Philippines is projected to generate a revenue of approximately PHP 371 billion this year. Given that the market is highly lucrative and provides many business opportunities, many have taken advantage of it by selling counterfeit and banned products on the market. Barcode technology is an effective way of combating these illegal activities.

Cosmetics are some of the most smuggled products in the country. According to recent reports, some local shops have even been found to be selling mercury-laced products that have been banned. 

These kinds of illegal activities negatively affect consumer confidence. This is the exact problem that GS1 Philippines, an organization that focuses on local barcode standards, hopes to address with its GS1 and Global Migration to 2D seminars. 

GS1 and Global Migration to 2D Seminars

Conducted in conjunction with the Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines (CCIP), GS1 Philippines supports the industry’s growth and innovation through the seminars. Representatives from different cosmetics companies in the country attended these seminars, which tackled the following topics:

• Latest trends and technologies in the global supply chain
• Benefits of integrating legitimate and streamlined barcode systems into their products
• Global migration to 2D barcodes and how companies can adapt to this push

“At CCIP, we aim to enhance the industry’s global competitiveness by ensuring product authenticity, providing comprehensive product information, and combating counterfeit products, all of which are crucial for consumer confidence,” CCIP Former President and GS1 Philippines Corporate Secretary Anna Marie Anastacio said. 

“We are working hand in hand with GS1 Philippines to continue realizing this commitment,” Anastacio added. 

Leveraging Barcode Technology

GS1 Philippines is a member organization of GS1, a global organization dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors.

For GS1 Philippines, adopting their standards as well as the use of barcode technology has numerous benefits that can aid cosmetics companies operate more efficiently. Such practices can ensure product authenticity, improve inventory management, and strengthen consumer trust.

The use of 1D linear barcode and the 2D code, in particular, can facilitate the capture of detailed product information. GS1 Philippines aims to help local companies prepare for the global shift to 2D barcodes by 2027. 

This move will align with international standards and is expected to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global market.

As GS1 Philippines President Roberto ”Bobby” Claudio emphasized, “With the evolving beauty landscape and Filipino beauty brands continuing to rise globally, authenticity and the availability of accurate product information are essential for fostering a more reliable and accountable marketplace.”