ISO 22716 - Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for Cosmetic Products
Cosmetic quality starts on the production floor – not on the label.
ISO 22716 is the internationally recognised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard for the cosmetics industry. It defines how products should be produced, controlled, stored and shipped – and gives manufacturers a structured, auditable framework for doing so consistently.
For many cosmetic businesses, ISO 22716 certification has become a condition for working with international retailers and brands, particularly when exporting into EU or UK markets.
If you’d like to understand what ISO 22716 certification would involve for your organisation, our team is ready to walk you through the process
What Is ISO 22716?
ISO 22716:2007 sets out GMP principles covering the full operational scope of cosmetic manufacturing: raw material control, production environment, personnel competence, documentation, and product traceability. Certification demonstrates that your manufacturing processes conform to an internationally accepted quality and safety model.
In plain terms: ISO 22716 is the recognised benchmark for how cosmetic products are made – not just what they contain.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Retailers, brand owners and procurement teams increasingly require verified GMP compliance before approving a supplier. ISO 22716 certification helps you:
- meet supplier and retailer requirements without repeated bespoke audits;
- reduce the risk of production errors and non-conformities;
- strengthen product safety and batch-to-batch consistency;
- build credible evidence of quality for customers and business partners;
- support export readiness, particularly into markets where GMP documentation is expected.
What the Audit Covers
BM Certification audits assess your manufacturing operation against the full scope of ISO 22716 requirements.
Raw materials and ingredients
Incoming material controls, supplier documentation, and acceptance criteria are reviewed to confirm that only verified inputs enter production.
Production environment and equipment
Facility design, cleanliness controls, equipment maintenance and process separation are evaluated to confirm the production environment supports consistent, contamination-free output.
Personnel and training
Competence requirements, hygiene practices and role-specific training records are checked against what the standard requires.
Documentation and traceability
Batch records, specifications, deviations and change controls are assessed to confirm that every product can be traced and that issues can be identified and acted on.
Quality control and non-conformance management
Testing procedures, release criteria and how your organisation handles non-conforming products are reviewed as part of the audit scope.
How the Audit Works
- Document review
production records, quality procedures and supplier documentation are assessed - On-site audit
manufacturing processes are verified under real operating conditions - Findings and report
any non-conformities are identified with clear corrective action requirements - Certification decision
conformance is confirmed and certification is issued
Who This Is For
ISO 22716 certification is relevant if you:
- manufacture cosmetic products and supply retailers or brands requiring GMP evidence;
- produce under private label for customers with third-party audit requirements;
- are preparing to export and need internationally recognised manufacturing credentials;
- want to strengthen your quality system ahead of a client or regulatory review.
The BM Certification Approach
We focus on how GMP requirements apply in practice. Our audits are designed to reflect your actual operation, which means findings are actionable and the certification you receive is defensible to any partner or retailer who asks.
BM Certification provides ISO 22716 certification audits, GAP assessments to identify gaps before the formal audit, and pre-audit evaluations to help you prepare with confidence.