Cosmetic Import Registration (Form COS-1 / COS-2)
No cosmetic can be imported into India unless the product is registered with the Central Licensing Authority at CDSCO. The application goes in Form COS-1 and the registration certificate is issued in Form COS-2. We prepare the dossier, file it online and handle the queries until the certificate is issued.
What it is
Cosmetic import registration is the product-level approval that lets a foreign-made cosmetic enter India for sale. It covers the brand, the category, the pack sizes and variants, and the factory where the product is made. Once registered, the certificate number has to be printed on the label of every unit pack, preceded by the letters “RC”.
Picture a Faridabad distributor that wants to bring in a Korean sunscreen range in three shades. Before the first container ships, the brand, its category, the factory and each shade need to sit on a COS-2 certificate. Ship first and register later, and the cartons wait at the port.
The law is the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 read with the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 763(E), 15 December 2020). Rule 12 says no cosmetic shall be imported unless it has been registered. The application is made in Form COS-1 on the online portal of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and the Central Licensing Authority grants the certificate in Form COS-2 under Rule 13.
Who it applies to
Indian importers and distributors
Any importer in India bringing in shampoos, skin creams, perfumes, make-up, hair dyes, deodorants or other cosmetics for sale. The importer can apply if the foreign manufacturer authorises it.
Indian subsidiaries of foreign brands
A subsidiary set up in India and authorised by the overseas manufacturer can hold the registration. Many brands start with a private limited company for this.
Authorised agents and D2C sellers
An authorised agent of the manufacturer, or an online brand selling imported products on marketplaces. Selling online does not change the rule: the product still needs COS-2.
Why it matters
Your goods clear customs
Without a valid registration, customs can hold the consignment at the port. Here is the catch: a variant missing from the certificate is treated as unregistered, even if its sister shades are fine.
Shops can stock you
Retailers and e-commerce platforms ask for proof of registration. The RC number on the label shows the product came in lawfully.
You register once
Under Rule 14, the COS-2 certificate remains valid in perpetuity as long as the retention fee is paid before every five-year period ends.
Documents required
From the foreign manufacturer
- Name and full address of the manufacturer and each manufacturing site
- Manufacturing licence or registration from the country of origin
- List of countries where the product is marketed
- Business profile and names of partners or directors
- Authorisation in favour of the Indian applicant, authenticated as Rule 12(3) requires
About the products
- Brand names, categories, pack sizes and variants
- Ingredients in standard nomenclature with percentages
- Specifications and testing methods
- Label artwork and package insert, if any
From the Indian applicant
- Company documents, PAN and GST registration certificate
- Importer Exporter Code (IEC)
- Undertakings required by the Second Schedule, including the declaration on animal testing
- Fee payment proof
How it works
Map products to categories
We list every product, variant and factory, and group them into categories. The fee and the certificate both follow this mapping. A brand with lipsticks and face washes made in two factories pays very differently from one with a single serum, so we settle it before anything is filed.
Build the dossier with the manufacturer
We collect the manufacturer’s documents, check the ingredient list against the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 and mark up the label artwork for Indian requirements.
File Form COS-1 online
We create the applicant’s login on the CDSCO portal, upload the dossier, pay the fee and submit Form COS-1.
Answer queries and collect COS-2
CDSCO may raise queries. We draft replies with you and the manufacturer, and track the file until the COS-2 certificate is issued. Then we hand over a label checklist so the RC number goes on the very first batch.
Timelines
Grant or rejection
Rule 13 requires the Central Licensing Authority to grant Form COS-2 or reject the application within six months of the application.
Retention fee
Payable before five years from the date of issue, and every five years after that.
Appeal
If the application is rejected, an appeal lies to the Central Government within 45 days.
What happens if you import without registration
Goods held at the port
Rule 12 bars the import of unregistered cosmetics, so the consignment may not be cleared. In practice, an e-commerce seller who ships first and registers later pays port charges for weeks while the file is processed.
Prosecution risk
Section 13 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 makes importing a cosmetic in breach of the import provisions an offence, punishable with imprisonment, fine or both.
Late retention fee
Miss the five-year retention fee and a late fee of 2% of the retention fee applies for every month or part of a month, for up to 180 days.
Government fees at a glance
| Item (Third Schedule, Cosmetics Rules, 2020) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration certificate, per category | US$1,000 |
| Each additional category | US$1,000 |
| Each manufacturing site | US$500 |
| Each variant | US$50 |
| Retention fee, every five years, per category | US$1,000 |
Fees can be paid in US dollars or the equivalent in Indian rupees.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for cosmetic import registration?
The foreign manufacturer, its authorised agent, its authorised subsidiary in India or any other importer in India can apply in Form COS-1 under Rule 12(2) of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. The importer needs a written authorisation from the manufacturer, authenticated as Rule 12(3) requires. Most Indian importers and distributors apply in their own name with that authorisation, and we help arrange the paperwork.
How long does CDSCO take to issue Form COS-2?
Rule 13 allows the Central Licensing Authority up to six months from the date of application to grant or reject the certificate. In practice, the two things that decide speed are a complete dossier and quick answers to queries. A clean file with correct ingredient data and labels moves faster, and we chase it so nothing sits idle.
What is the government fee for cosmetic import registration?
Under the Third Schedule, the fee is US$1,000 per category, US$500 per manufacturing site and US$50 per variant, payable in dollars or the rupee equivalent. A single category from one factory with a few variants therefore costs a little over US$1,500 in government fee. We work out the exact figure from your product list before filing.
Does the COS-2 certificate expire?
No. Under Rule 14, the certificate remains valid in perpetuity, provided the retention fee is paid before each five-year period from the date of issue ends. If you pay late, a late fee of 2% of the retention fee applies for every month or part of a month, up to 180 days. We diarise the date for you.
What must appear on the label of an imported cosmetic?
Rule 34 requires the import registration certificate number on the label of the unit pack, preceded by the letters “RC”, along with the name and address of the importer. Ingredients, batch number and the other Rule 34 particulars also apply. We check the artwork during the dossier stage, so the pack is right before it ships.
What if my product contains a new ingredient?
A “new cosmetic” under Rule 3 is one with a novel ingredient not used anywhere in the world before. It needs prior permission first: you apply in Form COS-12 with safety and effectiveness data, and the Central Licensing Authority issues permission in Form COS-3 under Rule 32. Only then does the normal COS-1 registration follow. Most imported products use known ingredients, so this step rarely applies.
Do I need an IEC and GST registration as well?
Yes. Customs requires an Importer Exporter Code for every commercial import, and you will need GST registration to claim input tax credit of the IGST paid at the port. The COS-2 certificate is a product approval and does not replace either. We can handle all three together so the first consignment clears on time.
What if CDSCO rejects my application?
The rejection order gives reasons. You can file an appeal with the Central Government within 45 days, or fix the gaps and apply again. Most rejections come from missing manufacturer documents, ingredient issues or labelling problems. We review the order, tell you which route is quicker and prepare the fresh filing or the appeal.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The government fee under the Third Schedule is US$1,000 per category, US$500 per manufacturing site and US$50 per variant, with a retention fee of US$1,000 per category every five years.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product list and the manufacturer’s details, and we will map the categories, government fee and document list before you commit.