Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence (Form COS-5 / COS-8)
Anyone who makes cosmetics for sale or distribution in India needs a manufacturing licence from the State Licensing Authority. You apply in Form COS-5 (or COS-6 for a loan licence) and the licence is granted in Form COS-8 (or COS-9). In Haryana, the authority is the State Drugs Controller under the Food and Drugs Administration. We prepare the file, apply online and stay with you through the inspection.
What it is
A cosmetic manufacturing licence is the State’s permission to make cosmetics at a named factory, for named products. It covers creams, lotions, shampoos, soaps sold as cosmetics, hair oils, perfumes, lipsticks and similar items. The licence lists the categories and items you may make. Add a face serum to a range of hair oils and you need it on the licence first.
The law is the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 763(E), 15 December 2020). Rule 4(2) makes the State Drugs Controller the State Licensing Authority for manufacture. Rule 23 covers the application in Form COS-5 or COS-6, and Rule 25 says the licence is granted in Form COS-8, and a loan licence in Form COS-9.
Who it applies to
You run your own plant
A company, LLP, firm or proprietor with its own unit, say a small herbal-soap maker in an industrial sector of Faridabad, applies in Form COS-5 for a full licence in Form COS-8.
You outsource production
A D2C skincare brand without its own plant gets products made at another licensed factory. It applies in Form COS-6 for a loan licence in Form COS-9.
You are adding products
An existing licensee adding a new category or more items needs those added to the licence, with the fee for each.
Why it matters
Legal manufacture
Making cosmetics for sale without a licence is an offence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Retail and marketplace listings
A distributor or online platform that asks for your licence gets a copy of COS-8 or COS-9 the same day.
Valid in perpetuity
Under Rule 30, the licence stays valid as long as you pay the retention fee before each five-year period ends.
Documents required
About the business
- Constitution documents (partnership deed, MOA and AOA, or LLP agreement)
- Udyam registration certificate, if you have one
- Names and addresses of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Ownership or rent documents for the premises
- Fee challan or online payment receipt
About the factory
- Approved layout plan of the manufacturing area
- List of machinery and equipment
- Testing arrangement: own laboratory or an approved laboratory
- Self-certificate in Form COS-7 on compliance with good manufacturing practices
About people and products
- Competent technical staff: qualification documents and consent letter
- List of cosmetics with composition and label, in triplicate
- Proof of brand ownership
- Undertakings required under the Second Schedule
How it works
Check the premises and staff
We go through the Seventh Schedule premises conditions and the competent technical staff rules with you. Pollution board consent (HSPCB consent to establish and operate) runs alongside. Rule 26 accepts, among others, a diploma in pharmacy, a registered pharmacist, an intermediate with chemistry or a bachelor’s degree in cosmetic technology.
Prepare the file
We draft the product list, the COS-7 self-certificate and the undertakings, and collect the layout plan and equipment list. In practice, the product list takes longest, because every item and its label must match.
Apply online and pay the fee
We file Form COS-5 or COS-6 with the State Licensing Authority and pay the fee.
Receive COS-8 and face the inspection
The authority grants the licence and inspects the site within 30 days of the grant. We help you prepare for the visit and respond to any observations.
Timelines
Grant
The State Licensing Authority grants the licence, or rejects the application, within 45 days of the date of application.
Inspection
Rule 23(7): the site is inspected within 30 days from the date of grant. After that, Rule 31 provides for inspection at least once in three years.
Retention fee
Due before five years from the date of issue of the licence, and every five years after that.
What happens if you miss the retention fee
Late fee
Rule 30(2): a late fee of 2% of the retention fee for every month or part of a month, for up to 180 days.
Deemed cancellation
Here is the catch: if the fee is still unpaid after 180 days, Rule 30(2) treats the licence as deemed cancelled. It happens by operation of the rule.
No retention, no production
A deemed-cancelled licence cannot be used to make or sell stock. Starting again means a fresh application, fresh fee and fresh inspection.
Government fees at a glance
| Item (Third Schedule, Cosmetics Rules, 2020) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Licence (COS-8), per category, up to 10 items | ₹10,000 |
| Each additional item | ₹500 |
| Each additional category, up to 10 items | ₹10,000 |
| Retention fee (COS-8 or COS-9), every five years | ₹10,000 per category of 10 items |
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a cosmetic manufacturing licence in Haryana?
The State Drugs Controller-cum-Licensing Authority under the Food and Drugs Administration, Haryana. Under Rule 4(2) of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, the State Drugs Controller is the licensing authority for manufacture of cosmetics in the State. Applications are made online. CDSCO is involved only for imports and new cosmetics, so a Faridabad or Gurugram unit deals with the State authority.
What is the difference between COS-8 and COS-9?
Form COS-8 is the licence for a manufacturer with its own factory; Form COS-9 is a loan licence for a brand that gets products made at someone else’s licensed factory. The applications are COS-5 and COS-6 respectively. Both are granted by the State Licensing Authority, and both carry a retention fee every five years.
How much is the government fee?
The Third Schedule fee is ₹10,000 for each category covering up to 10 items, plus ₹500 for each additional item. Another category costs another ₹10,000. The retention fee is ₹10,000 per category every five years. We count your items and categories with you so the challan matches the product list.
How long does it take to get the licence?
The State Licensing Authority grants or rejects the application within 45 days. The inspection follows within 30 days of the grant under Rule 23(7). A complete file and a factory that is actually ready avoid most delays. We prepare the paperwork so the authority has nothing to send back, and we go through the inspection checklist with you before the visit.
Who can be the competent technical person?
Rule 26 lists the qualifications. They include a diploma in pharmacy, registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, intermediate with chemistry, or a bachelor’s degree in cosmetic technology from a recognised university. The application must carry the person’s qualification documents and a consent letter. We check these before filing, because a wrong qualification is a common reason for queries.
Do I need my own testing laboratory?
Not necessarily. Rule 26 requires adequate testing arrangements: either your own laboratory and equipment, or testing through an approved laboratory. Many small units use an outside laboratory for some or all tests. Testing is done by the laboratory, not by us; we put the arrangement on record in your application and keep the agreement on file for the inspector.
Does the licence expire?
No. Under Rule 30, it remains valid in perpetuity if the retention fee is paid before each five-year period ends. A late fee of 2% of the retention fee per month applies for up to 180 days. After that, the licence is deemed cancelled. We diarise the due date for you.
What other registrations will my unit need?
Usually GST registration, a factory licence if you cross the Factories Act thresholds, consent from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Udyam registration for MSME benefits and Legal Metrology registration for packaged goods. A trademark in Class 3 protects the brand. We can line these up in the right order with the cosmetic licence.
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 ₹10,000 per category of up to 10 items and ₹500 for each additional item, with a retention fee of ₹10,000 per category every five years.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what you plan to make and where, and we will list the documents, staff and fees for your licence.