Last Updated on May 26, 2026 by The Health Master

Cosmetics – How to obtain manufacturing license

 

 

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FAQs on Cosmetics

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Cosmetic definition:

 

As per Section 3(aaa) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 “Cosmetic” means “any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, or introduced into, or otherwise applied to, the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance and includes any article intended for use as a component of cosmetic.”

Under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder, the manufacture of cosmetics is regulated under a system of inspection and licensing by the State Licensing Authorities appointed by the respective State Governments while the import of cosmetics is regulated under a system of registration by the Licensing Authority appointed by the Central Government.

The Drugs Controller General (India) functions as the Licensing Authority who grants the registration certificate and regulates the import of cosmetics in India.

 

Cosmetics Rules 2020

 

List of Schedules of Cosmetics

Following schedules are introduced in Cosmetics Rules 2020

 

Sr. No. Schedule Description
1 First Schedule Authorisation from manufacturer
2 Second Schedule Part-I Information and undertaking required to be furnished by the manufacturer or his authorised importer or distributor or agent with the application form for import registration certificate.
3 Second Schedule Part-II Information and undertaking required to be furnished by the manufacturer with the application form for grant of manufacturing licence or loan licence
4 Third Schedule Fee payable for licence, permission and registration certificate.
5 Fourth Schedule List of categories of cosmetics for import
6 Fifth Schedule Fee for test or analysis by the Central cosmetics laboratories or by the state laboratories
7 Sixth Schedule Undertaking for the import of cosmetics to be submitted by the importer with application form for Import Registration Number
8 Seventh Schedule Good manufacturing practices and requirements of premises, plants and equipment for manufacture of cosmetics
9 Eighth Schedule Manufacturing and raw material records
10 Ninth Schedule Standards for cosmetics (BIS)
11 Tenth Schedule Part-I List of colourants allowed for use in cosmetic products as given under IS: 4707 (Part 1) of BIS
12 Tenth Schedule Part-II List of colours permitted to be used in soaps
13 Eleventh Schedule Good laboratory practices and requirements of premises and equipment
14 Twelfth Schedule Extent and conditions of exemption of various class of cosmetics
15 Thirteenth Schedule Word “Cosmetics” is omitted from Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945

 

Download Schedules

 

Click the below links to read or download the different schedules of cosmetics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 List of Forms for Cosmetics

Following Forms are introduced in Cosmetics Rules 2020

 

Sr. No. Purpose Form
 1 Application for registration certificate for import of cosmetics in India Cos-1
 2 Import registration certificate for cosmetics in India Cos-2
 3 Permission to import or manufacture new cosmetics Cos-3
 4 Application for Import Registration Number for Import of already registered cosmetics in India Cos-4
 5 Import Registration Number for import of already registered cosmetics in India Cos-4A
 6 Application for grant of a license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or for distribution Cos-5
 7 Application for grant of a loan license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or for distribution Cos-6
 8 Self-certificate of compliance of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for manufacture of cosmetics Cos-7
 9 License to manufacture cosmetics for sale or for distribution Cos-8
 10 Loan license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or for distribution Cos-9
 11 Intimation to person from whom sample is taken Cos-10
 12 Form in which the inspection book shall be maintained Cos-11
 13 Application for grant of permission for new cosmetics for obtaining import registration certificate or manufacturing license Cos-12
 14 Application from a purchaser for test or analysis of a cosmetic under Section 26 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 Cos-13
 15 Report of test or analysis by Government Analyst under Section 26 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 Cos-14
 16 Receipt for stock of cosmetics for record, register, document or material object seized under section 22 (1) (c) or (cc) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 Cos-15
 17 Receipt for samples of cosmetics taken where fair price tendered thereof under sub – section (1) of section 23 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is refused Cos-16
 18 Memorandum to Government Analyst Cos-17
 19 Order under section 22 (1)(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 requiring a person not to dispose of stock in his possession Cos-18
 20 Report of tests or analysis of cosmetics by the Government Analyst Cos-19
 21 Memorandum to the Director, Central Cosmetic Laboratory Cos-20
 22 Report of test or analysis by the Central cosmetic laboratory Cos-21
 23 Application for grant of approval for carrying out tests on cosmetics or raw materials used in the manufacture thereof on behalf of licensees for manufacture for sale of cosmetics Cos-22
 24 Approval for carrying out tests on cosmetics and raw materials used in their manufacture on behalf of licensees for manufacture for sale of cosmetics Cos-23
 25 Report of test or analysis by approved institution Cos-24

 

List of Forms

 

Click the below links to read or download the different Forms of cosmetics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Categories and area required

 

Details of categories and area required to manufacture cosmetics under Cosmetic Rules 2020 is as under.

 

Category Cosmetics Area in Sq.Mtrs
A Powders 15
B Skin Powder for infants 15
C Creams, Lotions, Shampoo, Shaving Creams, Hair Oils. Emulsions, Pastes, Cleansing Milk, Pomade 25
D Nail Polish and Nail Lacquers 15
E Lipsticks and Lipgloss 15
F Depilatories used for eyes 10
G Eyebrows, Eyelashes Eyeliners 10
H Aerosols 15
I Alcoholic Fragrance Solutions 15
J Hair Dyes 15
K Tooth powders general and toothpastes etc. 15
L Toilet Soaps 100

 

Area required at a glance

 

 

Requirement for obtaining manufacturing license for Cosmetics

The following application forms are required to obtain license for manufacturing cosmetics, loan license and license to test the cosmetics:

 

Forms

Download the below pdf files for various Forms which suits your requirement

Cos-5: Application for grant of a license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or for distribution

 

Cos-6: Application for grant of a loan license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or for distribution

 

Cos-7: Self-certificate of compliance of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for manufacture of cosmetics

 

Cos-22: Application for grant of approval for carrying out tests on cosmetics or raw materials used in the manufacture thereof on behalf of licensees for manufacture for sale of cosmetics

 

 

 

Fee

Fee payable for licence, permission and registration certificate is given in Third Schedule, Click below link:

 

 

 


 

Technical staff

Requirement of technical staff for a cosmetics manufacturing license, click the below link

 

 

Documents and undertaking

Documents, undertaking required for a cosmetics manufacturing license, click below link

 

 

Requirements of plant and equipment

For requirements of plant and equipment to manufacture cosmetics, click the below link

 

 

Procedure for applying cosmetics manufacturing license

Procedure for applying cosmetics manufacturing license, click below link

 

 

Condition of license

Conditions of licenses is to be maintained after obtaining the required manufacturing license for Cosmetics. To download the pdf file for ready reference, click below link

 

 

Procedure for applying for approval of testing laboratory

Procedure for applying for approval of testing laboratory, click below link

 

 


 

List of colors permitted

List of Dyes, Colours and Pigments Permitted in manufacturing of cosmetics, Click below link:

 

Injectable preparations not allowed in Cosmetics

 

CDSCO dt 18-05-2026 Public Notice Injectable preparations do not fall under definition of cosmetics

CDSCO dt 18-05-2026 Public Notice Injectable preparations do not fall under definition of cosmetics

List of Laboratory instruments

List of Laboratory Instruments

We have provided list of laboratory instruments, click below link to exploxe:

List of Laboratory Instruments for Pharma & Cosmetics Industry

 

Standards for Cosmetics – Ninth Schedule

 

Ninth Schedule
(See rules 34(7), 39(1), 48)
Standards for cosmetics

Standards for cosmetics in finished form.

The following cosmetics in finished form shall conform to the Indian Standards specifications laid down from time to time by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

 

    • 1. Skin Powders IS :3959
    • 2. Skin Powder for infants IS :5339
    • 3. Tooth Powder IS :5383
    • 4. Toothpaste IS :6356
    • 5. Skin Creams IS :6608
    • 6. Hair Oils IS :7123
    • 7. Shampoo, Soap – based IS :7669
    • 8. Shampoo Specification IS : 7884
    • 9. Hair Creams IS :7679
    • 10. Oxidation hair dyes, Liquid IS :8481

 

 

    • 11. Cologne IS :8482
    • 12. Nail Polish (Nail Enamel) IS :9245
    • 13. Aftershave Lotion IS :9255
    • 14. Pomades and Brilliantines IS :9339
    • 15. Depilatories Chemicals IS :9636
    • 16. Shaving Creams IS :9740
    • 17. Cosmetic Pencils IS :9832
    • 18. Lipstick IS :9875
    • 19. Toilet Soap IS :2888
    • 20. Liquid Toilet Soap IS : 4199

 

 

    • 21. Baby Toilet Soap IS : 10523
    • 22. Shaving Soap IS :5784
    • 23. Transparent Toilet Soap IS :11303
    • 24. Lipsalve IS: 10284
    • 25. Powder Hair Dye IS: 10350
    • 26. Bindi (Liquid) IS : 10998
    • 27. KumKum Powder IS: 10999
    • 28. Henna Powder IS : 11142
    • 29. Bathing Bars IS:13498
    • 30. Sindoor IS: 14649

 

 

    • 31. Liquid foundation make-up IS 14318
    • 32. Coldwax-Hair remover IS : 15152
    • 33. Face pack IS: 15153
    • 34. Kajal IS : 15154
    • 35. Oxidation Hair Dyes (Emulsion type) IS: 15205
    • 36. Cream Bleach IS:15608
    • 37. Hair Shampoo for Babies- Specification IS:17117

 

Note.–In case of any new or amended standards published by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the new or amended standards shall be mandatory to the cosmetics after six months from the date of publication.

Download Ninth Schedule:

Ninth-Schedule-Cosmetics

 


 

Seventh scheduleGMP

 

Seventh schedule
GMP – Good manufacturing practices and requirements of premises, plants and equipment for manufacture of cosmetics

Download Seventh Schedule for requirements of area and machineries:

 

 


 

G.S.R. No. 763(E) dt 15-12-20 – Cosmetics Rules 2020, click below link

 

 


 

Cosmetics Notifications

For notifications of Cosmetics, click below link:

 

Notifications – Cosmetics