Importing Cosmetics From China to India: Registration Comes Before Shipment

Cosmetics are not a simple buy-and-ship category

CDSCO states that cosmetics falling within the regulatory definition must be registered, including the relevant pack sizes, variants and manufacturing premises, before import into India. ## The factory matters, not only the brand For private label and OEM projects, the manufacturing premises and product details need to be considered. Changing factory or adding variants can therefore have regulatory implications. ## Do this before mass production If you are developing a cosmetic product in China, the regulatory route should be reviewed while the formula, manufacturer, pack sizes and variants are still being finalised. ## Sourcing and compliance have to talk to each other A sourcing team may find a good factory and packaging. The import plan still needs the relevant India-side regulatory review. Treating these as separate conversations creates avoidable risk. > [!TIP] > **Action Step**: For a China cosmetics project, share the product type, variants, manufacturer details and intended packaging before production is confirmed. ## Helpful Resources & Official Links - CDSCO Cosmetic Import Registration - Explore Sourced Product Categories