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ALL ABOUT COSMETIC REGISTRATION IN INDIA

Cosmetic Registration - An Overview

Cosmetic business is blooming in India. With the world’s second-largest population, stands as a lucrative market for Cosmetic Products.

In India, the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regulates Beauty and Personal Care products under the overarching Regulations governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 & Rules 2020.

The Manufacturers, their Authorized Agents and Subsidiaries in India, and any other Importers can apply for the Issuance of a Registration Certificate for Importing Cosmetics in India by uploading necessary documents through the official online portal, known as SUGAM.

Customers are now keen interested to know the ingredients in products and make choices which one to buy. Hence, to start up a new business for cosmetic and conducting manufacturing, distribution and selling of products you need to obtain Cosmetic license first. Afterward, registered cosmetics will require to stick a special label with registration certificate number on it.

This certificate will be last longer for 5 years.

What is Cosmetic? - Definition

The Act defines cosmetics as an article used on human skin. Section 3(aaa) of the Act defines cosmetics as an article intended to be poured, rubbed, sprayed, sprinkled, introduced or applied to the human body for promoting attractiveness, beautifying, cleansing or altering the appearance.

It also includes an article intended for use as a component of a cosmetic.

The state licensing authorities appointed by the respective state governments are the regulating authority or the licensing authority for the manufacture of cosmetics.

The central licensing authority appointed by the Central Government is the regulating authority for the import of cosmetic products.

The Drugs Controller General (India) acts as the Central Licensing Authority that issues the import registration certificate.

Types of Cosmetics Registration in India

Image: Types of Cosmetics Registration In India

Manufacturing License

When an entity intends to manufacture cosmetics, a manufacturing license for cosmetics is required. The manufacturing license of cosmetics is valid for five years from the grant date. The entity can apply for any of the following manufacturing licenses for cosmetic product manufacturing and market in India: 

License for manufacturing cosmetics for sale or distribution

The Rules provide that a manufacturer can obtain a license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or distribution (COS-8) by applying COS-5 (application for grant of license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or distribution) with the licensing authority appointed by the state government.

A manufacturer can apply for the grant of license to manufacture cosmetics for up to ten items of each category of cosmetics.

Loan license for manufacturing cosmetics for sale or distribution

The Rules provide that a manufacturer can obtain a loan license for manufacturing cosmetics for sale or distribution (COS-9) by applying COS-6 (application for grant of loan license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or distribution) with the licensing authority appointed by the state government. 

License for grant of approval for carrying out tests on cosmetics

The Rules provide that a manufacturer can obtain approval for carrying out tests on cosmetics and raw materials used in their manufacture on behalf of licensees for manufacturing for the sale of cosmetics (COS-14). 

The manufacturer should apply COS-13 (application for grant of approval for carrying out tests on cosmetics used in the manufacture on behalf of licensees for manufacture for sale of cosmetics) with the state licensing authority.

Import License

The license for a cosmetic importer is required when an entity does not manufacture the cosmetics but imports and resales them in India. The importers must apply COS-1 (application for the issue of registration certificate for import of cosmetics into India with the central licensing authority to obtain the license for import of cosmetics). The Rules provide that a registration certificate for importing cosmetics into India from other nations is issued in COS-2.

The registration certificate COS-2 is valid for 5 years from the issue date.

The following persons can make the application for obtaining a certificate of registration for the import of cosmetics:

  • A manufacturer having a registered office in India
  • An authorised agent of the manufacturer
  • A subsidiary of the manufacturer
  • Any other importer

https://www.shauryam.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gazette-Notification-Cosmetics-Rules-2020.pdf

SR NO type of registration Apply In Grant In
1
Import
COS-1
COS-2
2
New Cosmetic
COS-12
COS-3
3
Import of Already Registered Product
COS-4
COS-4A
4
Manufacturing – Sale & Distribution
COS-5
COS-8
5
Manufacturing – Loan License
COS-6
COS-9

Regulations Relating to Cosmetic Registration

Before granting the license for the manufacture of cosmetics or certification of registration for the import of cosmetics, the licensing authority will conduct an in-depth inspection of the entire premises. The inspection officer will submit a comprehensive report to the licensing authority, which will decide whether to issue the license or not. The manufacturers or importers must comply with the below regulations as provided in the Rules.

Qualification criteria for working staff in a cosmetic manufacturing unit

The manufacturers need to ensure that the production of cosmetics is done in the presence of a qualified and competent technical staff, and at least one staff person should possess the below educational requirement:

  • Pharmacy Diploma approved by the Pharmacy Council of India under the Pharmacy Act, 1948
  • Registered under the Pharmacy Act, of 1948
  • Passed intermediate examination with Chemistry as one of the subjects or any other equivalent examination recognised by the licensing authority.

Categories of Cosmetic Products

List of categories of cosmetics for the purpose of grant of licence to manufacture for sale of cosmetic in the
country

  • Powders
  • Creams, lotions, cleansing, milk, shampoos, pomade, shaving creams, hair oils etc.
  • Nail polishes and Nail lacquers
  • Lipsticks and Lipgloss
  • Depilatories
  • Preparations used for eyes
  • Aerosol
  • Alcoholic Fragrance Solutions
  • Hair Dyes
  • Tooth powder and toothpaste
  • Toilet soaps

Procedure for Obtaining Cosmetic Registration Online

The manufacturers of cosmetics or cosmetic importers can apply for the manufacturing license or registration certificate for import by following the below process:

  • Visit the SUGAM portal.
  • Click on the ‘Login/Sign Up’ button and click on the ‘Sign Up Here’ option. 
  • Select the registration purpose as ‘For Cosmetic Registration’ and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • Enter the details, upload the documents (ID proof of the authorised signatory, undertaking and company address proof) and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • A verification link will be sent to the registered email ID. Upon clicking on the verification link, the application will be sent for approval to the concerned authority, i.e. CDSCO officials.
  • The authority will send the approval of registration to the email ID.
  • After receiving the approval, log in to the portal by entering the user and password.
  • Select the department and type of form in the form submission section.
  • Select the type of application to be submitted. 
  • After submission of the application, click on the ‘continue’ button. 
  • Preview the page and click on the ‘Save and Continue’ button. 
  • The ‘Checklist’ page will open. On this page, click on each point to upload documents and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • The payments page will open. Fill out the form and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • The preview page will open. Click on the ‘PDF’ button to generate the PDF of the filled application form, and click on the ‘Submit’ button. 
  • On the next page, upload the application form downloaded as a PDF and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
  • The online application form will be forwarded to the respective designated officer for issuing the license.

After the license application form is sent to the designated officer, the designated officer will review and verify the form and documents. If the application form is found to be satisfactory, it will be forwarded for approval by the licensing authority.

Once the licensing authority approves the form, the approval letter will be available in the applicants’ SUGAM dashboard.

When the application form is not found to be unsatisfactory, then the designated officer informs of the discrepancies in the application to the applicant on the SUGAM portal.

Once the applicant complies with the discrepancies, it will be processed for approval.

Documents Required For Cosmetics Registration/License

For Manufacturing License

  • Declaration form
  • Blueprint of key and site plan 
  • Proof of ownership of the manufacturing premises
  • Proof of registration/constitution of the firm 
  • Affidavit of non-conviction of partners, proprietors or directors under the Act
  • Certified copy of the registration certificate of Pharmacy Council of India, experience certificate of the registered pharmacist or competent person and their qualification certificates
  • Bio-data form
  • Affidavit of a registered pharmacist or competent person regarding full-time working with the firm duly attested by a Notary public
  • Appointment letter of the registered pharmacist or competent person in charge

For Import License

  • Covering letter by the importer
  • Original copy of power of attorney showing the connection between the importer and manufacturer
  • Certificate of free sale, manufacturing licence or marketing authorisation letter
  • Copy of the label of the product
  • Product specification and testing protocols
  • NOC from the pollution control board
  • Layout plan of the premises
  • Rental agreement, in case of rented premises
  • List of laboratory equipment
  • List of machines installed for manufacturing, if any

Cosmetic Registration Cost

Re-Registration of Cosmetic Products

The Cosmetic license is essential to commence the food business, similarly, it is imperative to renew the license.

The license is issued for a validity of 5 years, so the business must apply for retention days prior to the expiry of the current license.

Late Fee

The license or loan license holder shall, in addition to the license or loan license retention fee, be liable to pay a late fee calculated at the rate of two per cent of the license or loan licence retention fee for every month or part thereof within one hundred and eighty days and in the event of non-payment of such fee during that period, the licence shall be deemed to have been cancelled.

FAQs

Cosmetic Rules 2020 have been modified vide notification No. G.S,R. 763 (E) Dated 15-12-2020 and the same have come into force from the date of its notification i.e. 15-12-2020.

Form COS-1 is an application for grant of a Registration Certificate for Import of cosmetics into India under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. 

Form COS-2 is an Import Registration Certificate to be issued for import of cosmetics into India under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.

As per the Third Schedule of Cosmetics Rules, 2020, a fee of One Thousand US dollars or its equivalent in Indian Rupees for grant or retention of Registration Certificate for each category of cosmetics, a fee of Five Hundred US dollars for registration of each manufacturing site, a fee of Fifty US dollars for each variant and a fee of One Thousand US dollars for grant or retention of Registration Certificate for additional category of Cosmetic shall be paid along with the application in Form COS-1. 

Fee is given in 3rd Schedule of the New Cosmetic Rules 2020.

- Fee for the grant of license is Rs. 10,000/- (Free: ten items of each category)
- Retention fee Rs. 10,000/-
- Item fee: Rs. 500/- per item
- Late Fee per month Rs. 2% of the license fee.
- Fee for additional category Rs. 10,000/-
- Fee for duplicate license Rs. 500/-
- Fee for the approval of testing laboratory Rs. 1,000/-

GET IN TOUCH

Quick Connect

India Office

Shauryam Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

C-1022, Noida One, Sector-62, Noida,
Uttar Pradesh, India-201301

Sales: +91- 9958545464

Reception: +91-0120-3561667

Email: regulatory@shauryam.co.in

Office Timings: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Mon-Fri)

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