Cosmetic Regulatory Services · India
Cosmetic Registration in India, From COS-1 Application to COS-2 Certificate
Shen Clinical Services handles cosmetic registration in India under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020: product categorisation, ingredient and label review, the Form COS-1 application on CDSCO’s SUGAM portal, query responses and the COS-2 import registration certificate. We also act as your authorised agent in India.
Cosmetics Rules, 2020The law governing cosmetics in India
COS-1 to COS-2Application and import registration certificate
CDSCO SUGAM PortalOnline filing, queries and approvals
No Animal TestingAnimal-tested cosmetics cannot be imported
On this page
Licences and Forms
Which Cosmetic Licence Do You Need in India?
| Activity | Application | Licence / certificate | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import cosmetics for sale in India | Form COS-1 | Form COS-2 (import registration certificate) | CDSCO |
| Manufacture cosmetics in India | Form COS-5 | Form COS-8 (manufacturing licence) | State Licensing Authority |
| Loan licence (manufacture at another firm’s site) | Form COS-6 | Form COS-9 (loan licence) | State Licensing Authority |
| New cosmetic (new ingredient not previously approved) | Form COS-12 | Form COS-3 (prior permission) | CDSCO |
| Import Registration Number for an already-registered product | Form COS-4 | Form COS-4A (valid 3 years) | CDSCO |
Importing a cosmetic that is not registered is prohibited under Rule 12 of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
Government Fees
Cosmetic Import Registration Fees
| Item | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Each product category | USD 1,000 |
| Each manufacturing site | USD 500 |
| Each variant | USD 50 |
| Each additional category | USD 1,000 |
Fees are paid through the Bharatkosh portal and the receipt is uploaded with your application. Professional fees for document preparation and filing are separate.
Timelines
How Long Cosmetic Registration Takes, and How Long It Lasts
| Stage | Rule / timeline |
|---|---|
| CDSCO decision on COS-1 application | Up to 6 months under Rule 13; CDSCO’s target is 90 days |
| COS-2 validity | Remains valid while the retention fee is paid before 5 years from issue |
| Late retention fee | 2% per month, for up to 180 days; after that the certificate is cancelled |
| Change in labelling, composition or specifications | Inform CDSCO within 15 days |
| Change of name or address of holder or manufacturer | Apply for amendment within 60 days |
| Change in constitution of holder or manufacturer | Fresh registration within 180 days |
Documents
Documents Required for Cosmetic Registration
A complete dossier is the fastest route through cosmetic product registration in India. For an import application, CDSCO asks for:
- Covering letter and signed Form COS-1
- Manufacturer’s authorisation to the Indian applicant, apostilled or authenticated
- Part-I information and undertaking (Second Schedule)
- Full ingredient list with percentages
- Product specifications and testing methods
- Original labels and pack inserts
- Manufacturing licence or equivalent from the country of origin
- Free Sale Certificate with a product correlation chart
- Non-animal-testing undertaking
- Heavy metal and hexachlorophene test reports or undertaking
- Bharatkosh fee receipt
Cosmetic Labelling Requirements in India
What every unit pack must show. Labels must follow Rule 34 and Chapter VI of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020: product name, manufacturer’s name and address, batch number, use-before date, net contents and ingredients above 1% in descending order. Imported products must also show the importer’s name and address and the import registration certificate (RC) number.
Practical rules for importers. India-specific details such as the RC number and importer address can be added at a bonded warehouse after landing. The use-before date must be more than six months after the date of import, and claims must not be false or misleading.
Our Process
How We Register Your Cosmetics With CDSCO
STEP 01
Product Categorisation and Ingredient Review
We group your products into the right categories and variants to keep fees down, and check every ingredient against Indian standards, including IS 4707 and the Ninth Schedule.
STEP 02
Dossier and Authorisation
We prepare the Part-I undertaking, specifications and label review, and make sure overseas documents are apostilled correctly. If you have no Indian entity, we act as your authorised agent.
STEP 03
SUGAM Filing and Query Management
We file Form COS-1, upload the Bharatkosh fee receipt and respond to every CDSCO query until the COS-2 certificate is issued.
STEP 04
Labelling and Post-Approval
We review your India labels and manage endorsements, new variants, amendments and the five-year retention fee so your registration never lapses.
Related Services
Complete Cosmetics Registration Services
Fresh import registration (COS-1 / COS-2)
Endorsement of new products and variants
Indian authorised agent / registration holder
Ingredient and formulation compliance review
Label compliance review
Claims review
Manufacturing licence (COS-5 / COS-8)
Loan licence (COS-6 / COS-9)
New cosmetic permission (COS-12 / COS-3)
R&D sample import NOC
Retention fee and renewals
Post-approval changes and amendments
FAQs
Cosmetic Registration in India: Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for cosmetic registration in India?
The overseas manufacturer, its authorised agent in India, an authorised Indian subsidiary, or any other importer in India can apply to CDSCO using Form COS-1 on the SUGAM portal.
How much does cosmetic import registration cost?
Government fees under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 are USD 1,000 per product category, USD 500 per manufacturing site and USD 50 per variant, with USD 1,000 for each additional category. Fees are paid through Bharatkosh.
How long does CDSCO take to issue the COS-2 certificate?
The Cosmetics Rules allow CDSCO up to six months to decide an application. CDSCO’s target, according to its FAQ, is 90 days. Complete documents and quick query responses keep you close to that target.
Does the COS-2 registration certificate expire?
The COS-2 certificate remains valid as long as the retention fee is paid before five years from the date of issue. A late fee of 2% per month applies for up to 180 days; after that the certificate is deemed cancelled.
Can cosmetics tested on animals be imported into India?
No. Cosmetics tested on animals after 12 November 2014 cannot be imported, and the manufacturer must give an undertaking that its products were not tested on animals. Animal testing of cosmetics in India is also prohibited.
Do I need registration to import samples for testing?
Small quantities for research and development, such as packaging trials, consumer studies or shelf-life studies, do not need a registration certificate. A No Objection Certificate is obtained from the CDSCO port office instead.
Resource Spotlight
Registering diagnostics or devices too? See our IVD registration in India and medical device registration services, or our dermatology clinical trial expertise for testing cosmetic claims. Need a local applicant? Appoint us as your Indian Authorized Agent.
Bring Your Cosmetic Brand to India
New to India? Get a cosmetic registration quote based on your categories, variants and manufacturing sites.
Already registered? We handle new variants, label updates and retention so your COS-2 stays valid.
+91 98968 89927 · info@shenclinicalservices.com · A 302, Urban Square, Sector-62, Gurugram, Haryana 122098
Sources: CDSCO Guidance on Registration and Import of Cosmetics into India; CDSCO Frequently Asked Questions on cosmetics import; Cosmetics Rules, 2020. General regulatory information, not legal advice.