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SOUTH east Asia’s countries are as culturally diverse as those in Europe, and far more contrasting in economic development, so it is no surprise that their personal care product markets differ in their tastes and priorities. Fortunately, with the region’s largely emerging market economies still on a robust growth trajectory, and its more developed economies solidifying their wealth, the usual personal care product sale trend is one of expansion, albeit unevenly and sometimes with set-backs.…

THE CARIBBEAN may be a small and fragmented regional market but it is a hotbed of innovation in the personal care product industry, and a potential source of inspiration in formulation and ingredients for major brands.

Its island nations, politically independent and dependent territories, have long relied especially on the nearby USA for imports.…

TAIWAN, a now a high-income economy with a population of 23.6 million and a per capita income of USD22,453 in 2016, (International Monetary Fund figures), has been witnessing robust growth in its cosmetics and personal care products manufacturing. In 2016, this grew by 5.99% year-on-year to Taiwan dollars TWD21.1 billion (USD700 million), according to an estimate by the Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center (IEK), a Hsinchu-based public-initiated think tank.…

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) and China have struck a geographical indications deal preventing the names of 100 traditional food and drink items from either jurisdiction being used by manufacturers based outside their historic production regions or following standardised production techniques. Without complaints from manufacturers, the agreement will be formalised later this year.…

Russian scientists have developed a diagnostic drug that may prevent anthrax outbreaks in livestock by identifying which animals need to be re-vaccinated against the disease. The medicine has been developed because of concerns over statistics gathered by the Russian ministry of agriculture indicating that despite the mandatory vaccination of livestock in the country against anthrax, about 30% of these animals remain susceptible.…

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has told just-food it is blocking the movement of beef cattle from a Dutch veal and broiler poultry farm to allow tests on whether another unauthorised insecticide could pose health problems.

NVWA spokesperson Tjitte Mastenbroek explained that while Amitraz can be used as a veterinary medicinal product for cattle and pigs, its use as a pesticide is prohibited, because large doses can affect the nervous system.…

THE VIETNAMESE government has said it wants to shift the country’s clothing manufacturing sector from its current low-cost model to an added value sector that includes design and branding.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc is behind the change in direction, releasing a government decision signalling this formal policy change, although details of specific actions are still awaited.…

AS Ethiopia rapidly emerges as a key clothing and textile hub of Africa, the country has been making impressive strides as a knitwear manufacturing and sourcing centre, attracting the attention of global clothing majors.

“International buyers are beginning to buy knitted clothes from Ethiopia including Zara, Tesco, H&M [Hennes & Mauritz] and Decathlon,” said Fassil Tadesse, president of the Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturing Association (ETGAMA).…

FINANCIAL services, regulators and technology providers in the UK hope that virtual currencies and their associated blockchain technology may ultimately be a major asset in fighting money laundering and terrorist finance.

This was the “overall consensus” noted in report commissioned by Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) following three months of research and more than 40 interviews with regulated firms, technology providers, industry bodies and academics.…

AN IRON rice bowl – ‘tee farn woon’ – is how Chinese employees refer to a “job for life”. The implication is that whether you look after it or whether you treat it harshly, you can look forward to three square meals a day (and some added benefits) for as long as you live.…