Promotion of Safe and Reliable Manufacturing

Shiseido conducts research, development and production activities to ensure the safe consumption of our products by consumers. Based on the belief that it is important to understand the skin correctly, Shiseido conducts research on the skin by incorporating cutting-edge technologies in all fields related to cosmetics (life science, dermatology, interface science, ergonomics, psychology, etc.) and through joint research with dermatologists, universities and research institutions in Japan and overseas. Additionally, we create new beauty experiences by integrating digital devices and information science with a holistic approach that takes into account the entire human body.

The products developed from these avenues of research are evaluated for safety, including their ingredients, formulations, and packaging, with the assumption that they will be used in various situations. These products are delivered to the market after comprehensive quality checks and are continuously improved after launch based on customer feedback.

Safety is a top and non-negotiable priority. We fully comply with the regulations of the countries in which we operate and also apply our own strict ingredient-standards, which are set in tandem with our safety standards, based on environmental considerations and ethical standards when selecting ingredients. This is a minimum commitment across the organization: Each brand either already has or is in the process of putting in place its own ingredient policy that reflects these values, and develops products based on that policy.

Shiseido carefully selects newly introduced cosmetic ingredients based on its own strict standards. Based on domestic and international safety evaluation guidelines, we examine data for each item and evaluate safety without the use of animal testing.

We also confirm that there are no safety concerns not only with regard to ingredient specifications, but also in eliminating impurities assumed to be present in the manufacturing process. We continuously collect and apply the latest information and cutting-edge technologies while engaging in discussions with external specialists to deepen our expertise, which is essential when conducting such evaluations.

Production involves a broad array of environment-related risks, and laws related to this issue in respective countries grow stricter every year . For this reason, Shiseido HQ takes the lead in gathering information about new laws and social trends regarding the environment, analyzing their provisions, disseminating information to the relevant departments, and accommodating social needs. Shiseido thoroughly observes environmental laws and regulations and conducts compliance evaluation based on ISO 14001 standards at production sites.

We comply with REACH regulations regarding substances imported into Europe, and not only satisfy the legal reporting requirements set out in the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Law and Promotion of Chemical Management, but also proactively conduct voluntary management of the use and disposal of chemical substances such as ingredients and reagents in factories and laboratories.

At Shiseido, quality and safety go hand in hand, taking priority over all other matters. We continuously work to maintain and control product quality not only by observing all applicable laws and regulations but also by applying our own rules through a Global Quality Policy to ensure that consumers can use our products with complete confidence. We conduct comprehensive quality control at all stages from ingredient and packaging selection to commercialization, production and distribution in order to ensure the quality and safety of all our products, including medical and food products as well as cosmetics. In doing so, we manufacture products that our consumers can trust and use regularly without any concerns.

At the ingredient selection stage, we collect and check information from all over the world down to their specific components to make sure that we use only safe ingredients.

At the commercialization, production, and distribution stages, we also have systems in place to ensure the stable supply of high-quality products at all times by complying with various standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)^*1, ISO 22000, and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)^*2, as well as our own product standards. For our cosmetic products, for example, we comply with all items (e.g. organizations and systems, buildings and facilities, manufacturing management, and inspections) stipulated in the Cosmetics GMP set by ISO 22716, an international standard that gives guidelines for the production, control, storage and distribution of cosmetic products, ensuring that consumers are provided with safe and secure products of high quality manufactured under strict quality control.

In order to promote research, development, manufacturing and sales of safe products that achieve consumer satisfaction, Shiseido clarifies where the authority and responsibility lie in terms of quality assurance (including product planning, manufacturing and sales), and product issue prevention. We also have our own manuals for dealing with any product issues so that we can respond in a concerted manner and promptly bring the situations under control while putting consumer safety first. Thus, we are committed to strengthening and comprehensively promoting quality assurance and product issue prevention at Shiseido and our Group companies.

In the unlikely event of a quality and/or product liability issues involving the Company's products, the department that has received such information is expected to immediately report to the Quality Management Department, related business divisions, and Risk Management Department. The Risk Management Department will decide on response methods in accordance with the level of severity. The Quality Management Department will investigate the cause and the business divisions will promote various initiatives, including responses to the market.

Details that should be indicated on cosmetics are stipulated under the Regulatory Law (statutory labeling). At the same time, aspects of advertising are restricted under the Standards for Fair Advertising Practices of Drugs, Quasi-drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices (Notification from the Director-General of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Health and Welfare, September 29, 2017). Based on these standards, the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association (JCIA) has established Appropriate Advertising Guidelines including Cosmetics as self-imposed industry standards that provide relevant examples and explanations.

As for statutory labeling, Shiseido operates by defining "labeling regulations." With regard to advertising, the Company observes laws and regulations by following the Appropriate Advertising Guidelines including Cosmetics.

Also, the JCIA established the Advertising and General Publicity Committee within the organization and the Cosmetics Advertising Deliberation Council as an institution pertaining to the committee. This council independently carries out deliberations to enhance the reliability of and optimize cosmetics advertising expressions. These deliberations, conducted three times annually, are based on the Regulatory Law, the Standards for Fair Advertising Practices of Drugs, Quasi-drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices, Appropriate Advertising Guidelines including Cosmetics, and other relevant laws and regulations and addresses television, newspaper and magazine advertising.

Shiseido holds the "Statutory Labeling Seminar" and "Advertising Expression Seminar" twice a year in order to enhance the employee knowledge about compliance with the laws on pharmaceuticals and medical devices concerning advertising and labeling.