UK Cosmetics Regulations: The Complete Guide for Brand Founders

Before a single jar of your product reaches a customer in Great Britain, the law expects five things to be in place: a named Responsible Person, a safety assessment, a Product Information File, a compliant label and a product notification. Miss one and your product isn't legally on the market, however good the formula is.

This guide walks through each requirement in the order you'll meet it as a founder, and links to deeper guides on every step.

Which law applies to cosmetics in the UK?

In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), cosmetics are governed by the UK Cosmetics Regulation. It is the retained version of EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, amended by UK legislation since Brexit. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the national regulator, and local Trading Standards teams enforce it on the ground.

Northern Ireland is different. Under the Windsor Framework it still follows the EU Cosmetics Regulation directly. If you sell across the whole UK, you are working with two rulebooks that are similar but no longer identical.

What counts as a cosmetic?

A cosmetic is any substance or mixture intended to be applied to the external parts of the body, teeth or mouth, mainly to clean, perfume, change the appearance, protect, keep in good condition or correct body odour.

That covers far more than make-up and skincare. Toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap, bath bombs, hair dye, nail polish and sunscreen are all cosmetics. Many FMCG personal-care lines fall squarely within these rules.

What you claim matters as much as what's in the bottle. If you say a product treats or prevents a disease, it may be regulated as a medicine instead. See our guide to borderline products.

The five requirements before you launch

1. Appoint a Responsible Person (RP). Every cosmetic placed on the GB market needs a UK-based Responsible Person who is legally accountable for its compliance. This is often the brand itself.
2. Get a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR). A qualified safety assessor must review your formula, raw materials, test results and intended use, then sign off that the product is safe.
3. Build a Product Information File (PIF). The PIF holds the CPSR, product description, manufacturing method, GMP statement, evidence for your claims and animal-testing data. It must be ready the day you launch and available to regulators on request.
4. Label the product correctly. UK law sets out mandatory label information, from the RP's address to the ingredient list in INCI names, batch code and shelf-life marking.
5. Notify the product on SCPN. Before the product goes on sale, the RP submits it to the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification service on GOV.UK.

Manufacturing to GMP

Cosmetics must be made under good manufacturing practice (GMP). Following ISO 22716 is the accepted way to show this. If you use a contract manufacturer, ask for evidence of their GMP certification and keep it in your PIF.

Ingredients: what you can and can't use The regulation's annexes list substances that are banned, restricted, or permitted only as colourants, preservatives or UV filters. The lists change regularly. In 2026 alone, GB added new CMR substance bans including TPO, banned the UV filter 4-MBC, restricted hexyl salicylate and tightened formaldehyde labelling. Build an annual ingredient review into your calendar.

Claims and marketing

Every claim, on pack, online or on social media, must be truthful, supported by evidence and not misleading. Environmental claims also fall under the Competition and Markets Authority's Green Claims Code. Since April 2025 the CMA can fine businesses directly for misleading consumers.

After launch: your ongoing duties

• Keep the PIF up to date whenever the formula, supplier, packaging or claims change. • Record and assess undesirable effects reported by customers, and notify serious undesirable effects to OPSS. • Keep the PIF for 10 years after the last batch is placed on the market. • Monitor regulatory changes and act on deadlines.

What happens if you get it wrong?

Non-compliance can lead to products being withdrawn or recalled, retailer delistings, and criminal prosecution under the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations. Marketplaces such as Amazon increasingly ask for a CPSR and SCPN reference before listing, so gaps tend to surface quickly.

FAQs

Do I need a CPSR to sell cosmetics in the UK? Yes. Every cosmetic product needs a safety assessment by a qualified assessor before it is placed on the market, whatever the size of your business.

Can I sell cosmetics from home in the UK? Yes, but the same rules apply as for large brands. Home production also needs to meet GMP standards.

Is SCPN notification free? Yes. Notifying a product on SCPN through GOV.UK costs nothing. Do UK rules still follow the EU? GB rules started from the same text but now change on their own timetable. Northern Ireland follows EU rules.

How Labelring helps

Labelring turns the PIF from a pile of supplier documents into a guided checklist. Enter your product data, see exactly what's missing, and get a structured PIF ready for your safety assessor.