Selling cosmetics in India | The Cosmetics Rules 2020 and the import registration system

India, whose population has surpassed 1.4 billion and has become the world’s most populous country, also has an expanding cosmetics market. In December 2020, the Indian government established the independent Cosmetics Rules, 2020 for cosmetics, which had previously been handled under pharmaceutical rules. The responsible ministry is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) handles practical administration.

Imported cosmetics require registration

To import and sell cosmetics in India, registration with the CDSCO is required. Applications are submitted through the CDSCO’s online portal, SUGAM, using the prescribed COS-1 form; once approved, a COS-2 registration certificate is issued. An India-based business responsible for imports is required, and information must be submitted for each product and manufacturing site.

The Cosmetics Rules, 2020 explain that the validity period for registration certificates for imported cosmetics was extended from 3 years to 5 years. The CDSCO indicates 180 business days as a guideline for reviews such as new registrations.

Key points of India’s Cosmetics Rules, 2020
・Established in December 2020 as regulations applying exclusively to cosmetics
・Imported cosmetics must be registered with the CDSCO (application: COS-1; registration certificate: COS-2)
・Applications are submitted through the online portal, SUGAM
・Cosmetics tested on animals are not permitted to be imported

Cosmetics tested on animals cannot be imported

In 2014, India banned animal testing for cosmetics domestically and adopted a policy that does not permit imports of cosmetics tested on animals. This approach has been carried over into the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Cosmetics labeling is also required to include such information as an ingredient list and details of the manufacturer and importer.

Cosmetics rules vary greatly by country and region. For rules on animal testing in each country, see Animal-testing rules around the world; for systems in nearby regions, see the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive and China’s Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation introduced here.

Sources: India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “Cosmetics Rules, 2020”; Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) guidance and FAQ on cosmetics registration and imports

—The Value Village Editorial Team

Photo: Cididity Hat / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)