Aug 18, 2025
In 2025, cosmetic ingredient sourcing in Europe is at a turning point. A wave of regulatory change is coming, which Cosmetics Europe calls a “regulatory tsunami”. REACH revisions are due by the end of 2025, and updates to the EU Cosmetics Regulation are expected soon.
At the same time, documentation demands are increasing. For procurement teams, the stakes are high: can you trust the documents you receive, or will gaps lead to disruptions?
Regulatory Overhaul for Cosmetic Ingredient Sourcing
The European Commission is reviewing the EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. A REACH reform proposal is also in progress. This includes shorter registration validity (ten years), expanded polymer requirements, and mandatory Digital Product Passports (DPPs).
Changes like Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/877 will start on 1 September 2025, tightening bans on CMR substances and other ingredients.
GMP Expectations Remain High:
- EU law (Regulation 1223/2009, Article 8) requires adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices. Compliance with ISO 22716 shows GMP conformity.
Documentation Obligations:
- Responsible Persons must keep detailed Product Information Files (PIFs). This includes safety assessments, CoAs, and proof of GMP compliance, accessible for at least ten years.
Supply chain documentation is rising as firms prepare for more digital tools like DPPs and digital SDS.
Key Challenges for Procurement Teams in 2025
- Regulatory Complexity & Shifting Deadlines
- Multiple reforms (Cosmetics Regulation, Fitness Check, and REACH updates) create fluid timelines, making supplier documentation delays risky.
- GMP Certification Ambiguity
- Not all suppliers adopt ISO 22716 or provide the necessary PIF documentation. This leaves procurement unsure if products meet GMP standards.
- REACH and Registration Validity Risks
- If supplier REACH dossiers lose validity, procurement may struggle to find compliant alternatives, especially as registration periods shrink.
- Inconsistent CoAs and Chain-of-Custody Data
- Variations in formats and completeness hinder internal reviews, especially regarding chain-of-custody transparency.
How CheMondis Strengthens Cosmetic Ingredient Sourcing
CheMondis offers a technology-enabled, expert-backed supplier discovery platform that clarifies documentation without overpromising.
- AI-Powered Data Aggregation: Quickly access supplier information globally, highlighting GMP compliance (per ISO 22716), REACH registration status, and CoA availability.
- Expert Curation: Our compliance team verifies documentation, ensuring authenticity amid regulatory complexity.
- Transparent Supplier Profiles: Differentiate between manufacturers and intermediaries, show chain-of-custody details, and flag potential weaknesses (e.g., approaching REACH expiry).
- Balanced Sourcing Support: Connect with global suppliers while meeting European documentation standards
With CheMondis, procurement teams gain greater supply chain compliance visibility, enabling quick, confident sourcing decisions.
Practical Steps for European Procurement Teams
- Use a Documentation Checklist
- Current REACH registration numbers, CoAs, and indications of DPP or digital SDS when relevant.
- Prioritize Supplier Transparency
- Note if the supplier is the manufacturer or a distributor. Request upstream documentation or audit evidence.
- Track Regulatory Reform Timelines
- Align sourcing cycles with known deadlines, like REACH reform or the 1 September 2025 implementation of Regulation 2025/877.
- Mitigate Supply Risk with Verified Partners
- Especially when sourcing from high-volume markets, they require documented REACH compliance, chain of custody evidence, and timely CoAs to reduce disruption risk.
Strategic Takeaway: Turning Documentation into Competitive Advantage
In 2025, successful cosmetic ingredient sourcing in Europe depends less on price and more on the ability to verify documentation and compliance proactively. Uncertainties around GMP, REACH registration, and ingredient bans require clear visibility. Procurement teams that can quickly assess and trust supplier documentation will position their brands ahead of disruptions.
Aug 18, 2025
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will be enforced in December 2025. Food manufacturing procurement managers have a choice: adapt their supplier networks for traceability or risk losing market access.
The EUDR is more than a sustainability guideline. It sets legal duties for all operators and traders who sell relevant products in the EU market. The focus is now on raw materials. This includes high-risk commodities such as cocoa beans, green coffee, soy, and palm oil. These ingredients typically come from regions with intricate land use histories. They also involve informal value chains and have poor documentation.
While enforcement has been delayed from its original December 2024 deadline, this shift has not removed pressure. Supplier qualification and documentation alignment have only grown more urgent.
The EUDR Compliance Landscape: Why Raw Materials are in Focus
The EUDR seeks to cut the EU’s role in global deforestation. By doing so, EUDR makes sure that products sold are deforestation-free and legally made. It targets seven key commodities: cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber, timber, and cattle.
The regulation explicitly includes both primary goods and derivative products. For food manufacturers, this means a range of raw and semi-processed ingredients now fall under scrutiny. Examples include:
- Cocoa beans and semi-finished cocoa mass from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria
- Green coffee from Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam
- Crude and refined palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia
- Soybeans and soy derivatives (e.g., soybean meal, protein concentrate) from Brazil and Argentina
These materials are the key ingredients in many food products. They are used in sweets, baked goods, dairy, and meat substitutes. If they can’t be linked to a specific farm that was deforestation-free as of December 2020, they won’t meet EU compliance standards anymore.
In July 2025, the European Parliament rejected the Commission’s plan for a country risk classification system. This system would have labeled some origins as “low risk.”
As a result:
- No countries currently benefit from an exemption.
- Every operator must perform full due diligence on every relevant shipment.
- Traceability down to the plot of land remains mandatory.
Procurement Challenges: Raw Material Compliance in Practice
EUDR enforcement affects multiple stages of procurement. Among the most pressing issues for raw material buyers:
- Lack of mappable farm-level data
Many smallholders in origin countries do not currently have geo-coordinates, digital land deeds, or deforestation-free certifications. - Reliance on fragmented supplier networks
Brokers, traders, and cooperatives may lack visibility into the exact source of raw materials. This complicates traceability. - Limited documentation culture
Legal origin proof and land-use verification often exist in non-standardized formats, or not at all. Procurement teams must validate and standardize data across diverse sources. - Legacy relationships without compliance guarantees
Longstanding supplier partnerships may offer reliability in logistics or pricing; however, they do not offer documentation. EUDR raises the bar. - Increased customs disruption risk
Incomplete or non-compliant due diligence documentation can result in shipment holds, reputational risk, and financial losses.
How CheMondis Supports Raw Material Procurement Teams
At CheMondis, we help sourcing teams meet new regulatory demands. CheMondis provides structured and verified access to suppliers. Connects buyers and suppliers. Moreover, we also offer clarity, help with compliance, and boost decision-making confidence.
Here’s how:
- Pre-qualified Supplier Data
Our supplier profiles show: - Focus on upstream visibility
We connect you to manufacturers of certified cocoa mass, crude palm oil, and green coffee beans. All have clear sourcing chains. - Custom discovery workflows
We provide a structured longlist of suppliers for each request. EUDR-relevant criteria are highlighted clearly. - Ongoing regulatory alignment
We continuously monitor regulatory updates to ensure our verification processes and supplier insights remain aligned with EUDR expectations.
EUDR compliance is about more than avoiding legal trouble; it’s about safeguarding access to the EU market and ensuring the long-term sustainability of your sourcing strategy.
By preparing early, demanding supplier transparency, and building traceability infrastructure now, food manufacturers will be in a stronger position when enforcement begins.
At CheMondis, we help you stay ahead of the curve.
Aug 11, 2025
Chemical sourcing from China is undergoing a significant shift, driven by changing trade policies and the re-routing of global supply chains. For European buyers, this change brings both opportunities for competitive pricing and challenges around compliance, quality, and trust.
How Chemical Sourcing from China Is Reshaping Europe’s Supply Chains
China’s chemical industry has long been export-driven. But recent changes in international trade policy are accelerating a re-routing of Chinese exports toward Europe. Tariff increases in other major markets have narrowed opportunities elsewhere, prompting Chinese exporters to look more actively at Europe as a growth market.
Trade data shows a clear uptick in shipments of basic organic chemicals to Europe over the past year. Key products driving this growth include:
- Acetic acid
- Formaldehyde derivatives
- TDI/MDI precursors (used in polyurethane production)
This reflects a broader structural shift: as some trade routes contract, others expand, and Europe is becoming a focal point for redirected global chemical flows.
The EU Market: Opening Without Overexposure
European chemical imports have grown notably in recent months, with Chinese producers playing a central role in filling supply gaps. For European buyers, this has translated into greater access to competitively priced goods, especially in categories like polymers, solvents, and specialty intermediates.
Several factors are driving this momentum:
- Large-scale production capacity
- Lower energy costs
- Supportive export measures and efficient port logistics
At the same time, European importers remain focused on compliance and resilience. This isn’t about replacing European production, it’s about augmenting it through smart, globally balanced sourcing.
Strategic Levers and Long-Term Shifts
China’s trade approach remains highly strategic. While export momentum is encouraged, there is also a readiness to adjust supply levers for strategic purposes — as seen in recent restrictions on certain critical materials.
Although these measures have not directly affected mainstream chemicals, they highlight the increasing complexity of cross-border sourcing. The global feedstock landscape also remains sensitive to policy changes, reinforcing the need for agile sourcing strategies that can adapt to shifts in pricing, logistics, and regulations.
For European buyers, this environment underscores the need for agility: sourcing strategies must remain responsive to shifts in policy, pricing, and global logistics.
CheMondis: Your Bridge to Verified Chemical Suppliers in China
At CheMondis, we connect European buyers directly to verified Chinese manufacturers. Our procurement solutions ensure every supplier is vetted for compliance, documentation readiness, and production capabilities.
With our platform, you can:
- Access trusted suppliers for chemical sourcing from China without compromising EU standards
- Diversify your sourcing while reducing risks
- Stay in control of specifications, documentation, and communication
Looking Ahead
The increase in Chinese chemical exports to Europe is more than a response to U.S. tariffs, it’s a marker of a new era in global trade alignment. Rather than viewing this as a zero-sum shift, European companies have an opportunity to make their sourcing smarter, more resilient, and more globally informed.
This doesn’t mean “choosing China”; it means using global options intelligently. With trusted infrastructure, careful supplier qualification, and transparent documentation, companies can future-proof their sourcing.
CheMondis is here to help buyers navigate this complexity. We believe the future of sourcing isn’t about closing borders, it’s about opening the right ones, at the right time, with the right partners.
