85 years of strengthening
 India’s beauty and
personal care industry

The Indian Beauty & Hygiene Association (IBHA) is the apex national organisation representing the beauty, cosmetics, hygiene and personal care industry in India. The industry size as on 2021 has been estimated to be approximately 125,000 Crores INR (USD 15 billion) and is forecasted to grow at 8-9 % annually over the long term, thereby making it one of the most sustainably dynamic sectors of the Indian economy.

IBHA and its members are committed to building a robust and respected industry that is integral to the economic growth of India and to the wellbeing of society. IBHA works in collaboration with the government, other stakeholders and its members in order to achieve this vision. The industry is focused on the empowerment of women by employing over 500,000 women as hairdressers, beauty advisors, managers and leaders.

MILESTONES

1937

Established as
All India Soap Makers’
Association, in Kolkata.

1951

Renamed to Indian Soap
and Toiletries Makers’
Association (ISTMA).

1970-80

Moved operations to Mumbai
in 1973. In a heavily controlled
economy, we obtained
government permits to use and
procure vital raw materials
from local and international
sources for soap manufacture.

1980-90

Facilitated de-reservation of
toothpaste (earlier reserved only
for small scale industries),
thereby removing shortages and
fostering quality and innovation.

1990-2000

Partnered with the government
to reduce excise duty rates across
categories from 120% to 30%.
Harmonised local sales tax rate
differentials.

2000-09

Reflections on relevance of ISTMA
post-liberalisation, new BIS standards
for hair colorants based on
international standards.

2010-2012

Revamp of the association with a new
name IBHA (Indian Beauty &
Hygiene Association), the introduction
of new visions, goals and team.

2013

Registered under Section 8
of Companies Act.

2013-2015

Pioneered post-consumption collection and
recycling of multi-layered plastic sachets
in 5 cities with zero waste secondary products.
Partnered with Ministry of Health to establish
ISO/ EU norms for trace elements like
Mercury and others.

Obtained permission for necessary re-labelling
of standard imported products in custom
bonded warehouses for ease of business.

Pioneered post-consumption collection and recycling of multi-layered plastic sachets in 5 cities with zero waste secondary products. Partnered with Ministry of Health to establish ISO/ EU norms for trace elements like Mercury and others.

Obtained permission for necessary re-labelling of standard imported products in custom bonded warehouses for ease of business.

2016-18

Partnered with Ministry of Environment to launch
simplified rules for plastic waste management.

Launched the beauty and personal care
trend report in collaboration with AT Kearney.

Achieved perpetual licensing for local manufacturing.

Resolved technical challenges on the
SUGAM portal for imported finished goods
resulting in quicker registration approvals.

Partnered with Ministry of Environment to launch simplified rules for plastic waste management.

Launched the beauty and personal care trend report in collaboration with AT Kearney.

Achieved perpetual licensing for local manufacturing.

Resolved technical challenges on the SUGAM portal for imported finished goods resulting in quicker registration approvals.

2019

Year of workshops and collaborative knowledge
sharing with CDSCO, BIS and Anti-Counterfeit
bodies, release of draft new cosmetic rules.
Year of workshops and collaborative knowledge sharing with CDSCO, BIS and Anti-Counterfeit bodies, release of draft new cosmetic rules.

2020

Facilitated the creation of new cosmetics
rules (separate from drugs) published
in partnership with Ministry of Health.

Sanitizers produced by Industry classified
as essential goods during lockdown thereby
permitting their manufacture and
distribution to end consumers.

2021

Reduced and harmonised labelling text under
legal metrology in collaboration with the Ministry
of Consumer Affairs, thereby creating ease
of doing business.
Reduced and harmonised labelling text under legal metrology in collaboration with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, thereby creating ease of doing business.

2022

IBHA released its first scientific white paper
on sunscreen safety.

IBHA released its first scientific white paper on sunscreen safety.