The Cosmetics Industry: A Significant Contributor to the National Economy
The cosmetics industry is a significant contributor to the national economy, accounting for approximately 1.6% of the GDP, with an estimated turnover of 1.6 billion dinars. However, the industry is facing increasing fiscal and administrative pressure. This was highlighted during a press conference organized by Conect on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at its headquarters.
Key Statistics
- The industry generates around 10,000 direct jobs, including those related to manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
- The local market share has decreased from 24% in 2015 to around 15% today.
- The informal sector has grown from 23% to 35%, leading to a loss of competitiveness for formal enterprises and their fragilization.
Challenges Facing the Industry
According to Aslan Berjeb, President of Conect, the absence of a specific legislative text for cosmetics creates an imbalance between formal actors subject to rules and informal ones without constraints, leading to unfair competition and health risks for consumers. Maroua Ben Ali, founder of Herbeos and an expert in aromatherapy, and Selima Zaouali, founder of Aseptika Lab and winner of the 2021 Female Entrepreneur of the Year award, emphasized the need for a regulatory framework to protect the formal sector and ensure consumer health and safety.
Proposed Solutions
To improve competitiveness and protect the formal sector, the following measures are essential:
- Developing a specific regulation for cosmetic products to reduce informal products and ensure consumer health and safety.
- Suppressing the consumption tax on tariff items 3303 and 3304 (care, perfumes, makeup).
- Exempting customs duties on raw materials and packaging, including for commercial companies that import for SMEs that are unable to import directly.
By implementing these measures, the formal sector can be supported, and consumer health and safety can be preserved, ultimately benefiting the national economy.
