What COSMED does

COSMED (Association Professionnelle COSMED) is a French nonprofit professional association founded in 2000 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, representing over 1,000 cosmetics industry companies — primarily TPE, PME and ETI — across brands, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, contract manufacturers (façonniers) and expert laboratories. It is the first professional organization formally recognized as representative of the French cosmetics industry, granting it privileged access to French, European and international regulatory authorities and enabling it to defend collective industry interests on legislation ranging from EU cosmetic regulation and REACH to CLP classification of essential oils.

The association operates as a service platform bundling seven core offerings: Cosmed Veille (regulatory monitoring), Certificat de Vente Libre (CVL) export documentation, Cosmed Academy (training and webinars), HA Cosmed with EcoDestock (collective purchasing platform), Cosmed Environnement (eco-design advisory), two annual congresses (Scientific and Regulatory), and Cosmed TV (video content). It distributes these services through seven regionally co-funded Cosmetopôles covering Provence-Côte d'Azur, Occitanie, Grand Ouest, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Centre Île-de-France and Grand-Est, and through international collective pavilions at Beauty World Middle East and Intercharm Korea.

COSMED's business model is a recurring subscription model funded primarily by annual membership dues from member companies, supplemented by transactional revenue from paid training, congress tickets, CVL certificate fees, purchasing group commissions, and sponsor partnerships. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the organization operates with 11–50 employees. Its institutional partnerships span Business France (international export), Cosmetics Europe (EU-level advocacy), CPME (SME employers' confederation), EFEO/IFEAT (essential oils defense), ADEME and OFB (environmental transition), regional government agencies across France, and the EU South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk.

Name

COSMED

Legal name

Association Professionnelle COSMED

Website

https://cosmed.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

COSMED is a French nonprofit professional association, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, representing over 1,000 cosmetics industry SMEs through regulatory watch, training, export certificates, collective purchasing, environmental advisory, and seven regional Cosmetopôles across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetics Industry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cosmetology (General) (EDAOALAA)

Keywords

• Cosmetics industry association
• Regulatory compliance services
• Professional training programs
• Collective purchasing groups
• Industry trade representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Aix-en-provence

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: COSMED generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees paid by cosmetics companies (TPE, PME, ETI), which fund representation, regulatory watch, training, and other member services.
2. Training and event services: COSMED charges fees for professional training courses, webinars, congresses, and events, which provide additional revenue beyond membership dues.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

COSMED is a professional trade association representing over 1,000 cosmetics companies in France, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (TPE/PME/ETI). It delivers a comprehensive membership-based service platform spanning regulatory monitoring (Cosmed Veille), Free Sale Certificates (CVL) for export, professional training (Cosmed Academy), a collective purchasing group (HA Cosmed), environmental advisory (Cosmed Environnement), industry events, and B2B directories, supported by seven regional Cosmetopôles across France.

Product overview

COSMED is a professional trade association representing companies in the French cosmetics industry. Rather than a single product, COSMED operates as a platform offering a comprehensive suite of services including regulatory monitoring (Cosmed Veille), free sale certificates (CVL), professional training (Cosmed Academy), collective purchasing (HA Cosmed), environmental advisory (Cosmed Environnement), industry events (Scientific and Regulatory Congresses), video content (Cosmed TV), regional networks (Cosmetopôles), and industry directories. These services are designed to support SMEs and ETIs throughout the cosmetics value chain with compliance, procurement, training, and market intelligence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cosmetopôles: Regional relays of Cosmed actions and services for the cosmetics industry across France (Provence Côte d'Azur, Occitanie, Grand Ouest, Auvergne Rhône Alpes, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Centre Ile-de-France, Grand-Est)
• Cosmed Veille
• Cosmed Academy
• HACosmed
• Cosmed TV
• Cosmed Environnement
• Cosmed CVL

Products and services

• Cosmed Veille Regulatory monitoring service providing members with updates on cosmetic regulations across France, Europe, and international markets.
• Certificat de Vente Libre (CVL) Free Sale Certificate service enabling cosmetics companies to obtain documentation required for exporting products to international markets.
• Cosmed Academy Training platform offering courses and webinars on cosmetic regulations, good manufacturing practices, safety evaluation, and industry expertise for cosmetics professionals.
• Groupement d'achats HA Cosmed Collective purchasing group providing members with access to supplier networks, EcoDestock procurement platform, and buyer community for cosmetics supply chain needs.
• Cosmetopôles Regional network of seven Cosmetopôles across France (Grand Est, Provence Côte d'Azur, Occitanie, Auvergne Rhône Alpes, Grand Ouest, Centre Ile-de-France, Nouvelle Aquitaine) providing localized industry support, meetings, and networking.
• Congrès Scientifique Cosmed Annual scientific congress addressing formulation science, cosmetic routines, and emerging research in the cosmetics industry.
• Congrès Règlementaire Cosmed Annual regulatory congress bringing together industry professionals and authorities to discuss cosmetic regulatory developments.
• Cosmed TV Video content platform featuring educational videos on cosmetic regulations, environmental topics, market trends, and industry innovations.
• Plateforme EcoDestock Eco-friendly purchasing platform offering sustainable procurement solutions for packaging and raw materials for cosmetics companies.
• Cosmed Environnement Environmental advisory service providing eco-design tools and solutions for sustainable cosmetics development.
• Annuaire des Adhérents Member directory providing networking opportunities and visibility for cosmetics industry companies within the association.
• Annuaire des Fournisseurs Supplier directory connecting members with packaging, ingredients, and service providers in the cosmetics supply chain.
• Bourse emploi Job board facilitating recruitment and career opportunities within the cosmetics industry.
• Rapport de veille stratégique Cosmed-SVP Quarterly strategic monitoring report providing market intelligence, key indicators, and trend analysis for the cosmetics industry.

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cosmetics EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026COSMED works with Cosmetics Europe on EU-level industry advocacy, including challenges to the EPR on wastewater in the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive revision, and coordinated positions on Omnibus VI and ECHA regulations.
• Business FrancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness France and COSMED partner on international development for French cosmetics companies. Business France operates the French Cosmetics Marketplace, a digital platform showcasing French cosmetics products for international buyers, providing export visibility for COSMED members.
• Région OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith support from Région Occitanie, the Cosmetopôle Occitanie assists cosmetics companies in marketing, innovation, international development, intra and inter-sector partnerships, and competitiveness. COSMED is, with Ad'Occ, the main contact for the regional cosmetics sector.
• Région SudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRégion Sud supports the Cosmetopôle Provence-Côte d'Azur which promotes regional cosmetics actors during professional meetings, aligned with the OIR Naturalité (Innovation and Regional Development) initiative.
• Région Île-de-FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cosmetopôle Centre-Ile-de-France informs elected officials of the dynamics of the cosmetics sector, highlighting the importance of SMEs in the industry.
• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cosmetopôle Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes works alongside the Region to support the environmental transition of regional cosmetics companies, including biodiversity and eco-design initiatives.
• Région BretagneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cosmetopôle Grand-Ouest works alongside other regional stakeholders to recognize the significant potential of Breton cosmetics companies.
• SVPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSMED partners with SVP to publish quarterly strategic monitoring reports and key industry indicators for the cosmetics sector, providing market intelligence and trend analysis to members.
• EFEO (Fédération européenne des huiles essentielles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSMED and EFEO jointly advocate for the defense of essential oils and plant extracts in CLP classification, working together on the EFEO-IFEAT scientific programme to challenge the MOCS rule and protect exemptions until 2029.
• IFEAT (Fédération internationale des huiles essentielles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSMED and IFEAT jointly advocate for the defense of essential oils in EU regulatory frameworks, collaborating on the EFEO-IFEAT scientific programme to protect natural substances from overreaching CLP classification rules.
• CPMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSMED is a member of CPME (Confédération des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises), France's SME employers' confederation, which campaigns for a stable tax system conducive to SME investment and influences national economic policy.
• Ad'OcccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAd'Occ is the regional development agency for Occitanie and serves alongside COSMED as the main regional contact for the cosmetics industry, supporting the Cosmetopôle Occitanie in marketing, innovation, and international development activities.
• Innov'AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnov'Alliance is a competitive cluster that partners with COSMED on the Cosmetopôle Occitanie and regional biodiversity meetings, bringing expertise in natural ingredients, eco-design, and cosmetics innovation.
• ADEMEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADEME (Agence de la transition écologique) partners with COSMED to provide eco-design financial support to cosmetics companies, offering grants of 15-60% for eco-designed products, innovative projects, and life cycle approach investments.
• OFB (Office Français de la Biodiversité)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFB partners with COSMED on biodiversity meetings and initiatives, contributing to the collective work on sourcing and traceability of ingredients in cosmetics.
• ARB OccitanieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARB Occitanie (Agence Régionale de la Biodiversité) partners with COSMED on biodiversity meetings, providing expertise and regional support for biodiversity initiatives in the cosmetics supply chain.
• Dreets OccitanieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDreets Occitanie (regional economy and employment authority) partners with COSMED on the Cosmetopôle Occitanie, supporting regional cosmetics industry development.
• Intercham KoreacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOSMED partners with Intercham Korea to organize the French cosmetics presence at the Intercharm Korea trade fair, providing French brands with exhibition space and B2B matchmaking opportunities in the South Korean market.
• Messefrankfurt (Beauty World Middle East)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOSMED organizes the French Cosmetics collective pavilion at Beauty World Middle East in Dubai, one of the world's largest beauty fairs, giving French cosmetics brands access to 71,000+ visitors from 164 countries.
• South-East Asia IP SME HelpdeskminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCOSMED promotes the EU Commission's South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk to members exporting to ASEAN, which provides free guidance on trademarks, patents, copyrights, designs and licences in the 10-country ASEAN region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FEBEA (Fédération des Entreprises de la Beauté): French federation representing beauty and personal care companies, with strong overlap to COSMED's French cosmetics SME base. Comparable industry-association model, regulatory advocacy, and member-service offering in the same domestic market.
• Cosmetics Europe: Brussels-based pan-European trade association for the cosmetics and personal care industry. Direct peer: represents cosmetics companies at EU level on the same regulatory dossiers (UWWTD, Omnibus VI, allergens) that COSMED engages on for its French SME members.
• ICMAD (Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors): US trade association specifically serving independent and small-to-mid-sized cosmetic manufacturers and distributors. Closely comparable SME focus, regulatory compliance support, and educational service portfolio to COSMED's TPE/PME/ETI member base.

Regional players

• JCIA (Japan Cosmetic Industry Association): Japan's national cosmetics industry trade association. Comparable function as national industry body providing regulatory representation, technical guidance, and industry data, but operating in the Japanese market.
• KCIA (Korea Cosmetic Industry Association): Korea's national cosmetics industry trade association. Directly relevant as the counterpart organization on the Korean side of COSMED's Intercharm Korea export-trade-fair partnership, and structurally similar as a national cosmetics industry association.
• Cosmetics Alliance Canada: Canadian trade association for the cosmetic and personal care industry. Comparable scope of regulatory representation, member services, and industry advocacy for cosmetics companies in a single national market.
• CTPA (Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association): UK trade association for cosmetics, toiletries and perfumery companies. Highly comparable membership-association structure, regulatory representation, and training/services offering, but serving the UK market rather than France.
• Beauty Industry Group of New Zealand: New Zealand-based beauty and personal care industry association. Comparable small-to-mid sized trade-association model focused on regulatory advocacy and member services for cosmetics SMEs in a single national market.

Broad incumbents

• Personal Care Products Council (PCPC): The leading US trade association for the cosmetic and personal care products industry. Comparable trade-association model with regulatory advocacy, scientific programs, and member services, but at much larger scale and serving a broader multinational member base.

Others

• Cosmetics Europe - The Personal Care Association (Cosmetics Europe AISBL): Brussels-based industry association managing large-scale pan-European regulatory dossiers. Functions as both a peer and COSMED's upstream advocacy partner on EU regulation, with overlapping but higher-level scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/assocosmed
• Facebookfacebook.com/associationcosmed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-cosmed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COSMED