If you are sourcing a cosmetics manufacturer in Thailand, the term ASEAN GMP appears on every quotation. Here is what it actually means, how it differs from ISO 22716 and from a Thai FDA notification number, and what to check before you choose a factory.
What ASEAN GMP is
ASEAN GMP is the Good Manufacturing Practice guideline for cosmetics agreed by the ASEAN member states under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. Its purpose is to keep manufacturing standards comparable across the region so that cosmetics made in one country can move more easily within it.
It describes how a factory works — from before production starts until goods are shipped — rather than judging whether a particular formula is good. It belongs to the manufacturing site, not to the product.
What ASEAN GMP covers
- Personnel — defined responsibilities, training and hygiene
- Premises — production areas suited to the work, separated and cleanable
- Equipment — suitable for purpose, maintained and calibrated
- Raw and packaging materials — checked on receipt, identified and stored in designated areas
- Production — documented procedures and batch records that can be traced back
- Quality control — sampling, testing and release
- Storage, shipment and documentation — including complaints and product recalls where needed
ASEAN GMP vs ISO 22716 vs ISO 9001
- ASEAN GMP — the cosmetic GMP guideline in the ASEAN framework
- ISO 22716:2007 — the international ISO standard for cosmetic GMP, covering production, control, storage and shipment; the content runs along the same lines (read the ISO 22716 article)
- ISO 9001:2015 — a general quality management system that applies to any industry and is not specific to cosmetic safety
A factory holding all three covers both sides: a quality management system and cosmetic manufacturing standards. Each certificate is audited separately by an independent certification body.
GMP is not the same thing as a Thai FDA number
This is the most common mix-up: GMP belongs to the manufacturing site (the factory was audited and certified), while a Thai FDA notification number belongs to the individual product (the product details were notified before it was placed on the market, under the Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558). You need both, and each is verified from a different source.
Argosy’s certificates — numbers you can verify
- ASEAN GMP — certificate no. 2024070230
- ISO 22716:2007 (cosmetic GMP) — certificate no. 2024070229
- ISO 9001:2015 — certificate no. 2024070228
Issued by QRO (independent certification body) on 2 July 2024, valid until 1 July 2027, scope “MANUFACTURE OF COSMETICS (SKINCARE & PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS)”. A surveillance audit was completed in July 2026 — see our standards page for the certificate images.
What to ask a factory before you commit
- Ask for a copy of the certificate with a number you can check with the issuing body
- Confirm the certification scope covers the products you intend to make
- Ask for the minimum order, the lead time and the documents you will receive — in writing
- Ask what happens if an end customer raises a complaint
Frequently asked questions
How is ASEAN GMP different from a Thai FDA number?
GMP certifies the manufacturing site; the Thai FDA number comes from notifying each product. A factory can be GMP-certified whether or not your own product has been notified yet — and a notified product must still be made in a compliant factory.
How long are the certificates valid?
This set runs for three years: issued 2 July 2024, valid to 1 July 2027, with surveillance audits in between. Argosy’s most recent surveillance audit was completed in July 2026.
Does certification say anything about the factory’s size?
Judge the evidence rather than the size: verifiable certificate numbers, a scope that matches your product type, documented batch records, and clear figures such as a 200-unit minimum per formula and a 27–38 working day lead time (see the process).
Talk to us about your product
Phone +66 93-593-9929 · LINE @ARGOSY · email [email protected] (Monday–Saturday, 09:00–18:00) — factory in Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi, Thailand · our services
Written 16 October 2026. Government procedures and lead times can change — please confirm the current requirements with the Thai FDA before you file.
