If you import cosmetics made in China and sell them in England, Scotland or Wales, the product must meet the UK Cosmetics Regulation before the first unit is sold. The rules are close to the EU’s, but since Brexit Great Britain has its own Responsible Person requirement and its own notification portal. This guide explains each obligation in the order you will meet it.
Which rules apply in Great Britain?
Great Britain applies the UK Cosmetics Regulation – the retained version of EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, as amended by UK law – enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards. Northern Ireland is different: it continues to follow EU cosmetics law, so products sold there need an EU or Northern Ireland Responsible Person and a notification on the EU’s CPNP. Read our EU and Spain guide for that route.
What does the UK Responsible Person do?
Every cosmetic product placed on the GB market needs a Responsible Person (RP) with a UK address (a mail-forwarding service or PO box is not enough). According to GOV.UK, the RP can be:
- the manufacturer,
- the importer,
- a distributor who sells the product under its own brand, or
- a company or person appointed by the manufacturer or importer.
When you buy from an overseas OEM supplier, the RP is usually you (as importer and brand owner) or a specialist RP service you appoint. The RP must make sure the product is safe, keep its Product Information File, notify it, monitor serious undesirable effects and be able to prove the claims made for it.
The safety assessment and Product Information File (PIF)
Before sale, a qualified safety assessor must evaluate the product and sign a Cosmetic Product Safety Report. It forms part of the Product Information File, which the RP keeps at its UK address and must be able to show to the authorities. A PIF typically contains:
- a description of the product,
- the safety report (formula, ingredient profiles, exposure, stability, microbiological quality, packaging),
- a description of the manufacturing method and a statement on good manufacturing practice,
- evidence for the claims made on the pack and in marketing.
What to ask your OEM supplier for
Your safety assessor works from information that only the producer has. Ask for:
- the full formula with INCI names and percentages (often shared directly with your assessor under confidentiality),
- raw material specifications and safety data sheets where relevant,
- stability and packaging compatibility information,
- microbiological test results or the basis for the preservative system.
How SCPN notification works
The Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) service replaced the EU’s CPNP for Great Britain. The RP must notify each product before it is made available to consumers. You will typically enter:
- the product name and category,
- RP contact details and the country of origin,
- the frame formulation or exact formula,
- presence of nanomaterials and of substances classified as CMR,
- a label and packaging image.
Create the account early – the notification needs final artwork, so it is usually one of the last steps before launch.
Labelling requirements
GB labels need the same core items as EU labels, in English: RP name and address, country of origin for imported products, nominal content, durability date or period after opening, precautions, batch number, function and the full ingredient list using INCI names. See our UK and EU label requirements guide for a printable checklist.
Product claims
Claims such as “reduces dark spots”, “SPF 50+” or “24h hydration” must be truthful and supported by evidence held in the PIF. Claims must not suggest the product treats or prevents disease – that would make it a medicine. Sunscreens have their own testing and labelling rules, explained in our sunscreen OEM guide.
Keep an eye on ingredient updates
Great Britain now updates its ingredient annexes separately from the EU. In 2026, for example, the UK added the UV filter 4-MBC and a group of substances classified as CMR to its prohibited list, with deadlines for placing products on the market and for removing them from shelves. Ask your safety assessor to confirm the formula against the current GB annexes, not only the EU’s. For recent EU changes, see the EU limits on retinol, arbutin and kojic acid.
UK launch checklist
- Decide who will act as Responsible Person (your company or an appointed RP).
- Collect formula and test information from your supplier.
- Commission the safety assessment and build the PIF.
- Finalise compliant English labelling.
- Import the goods – see importing cosmetics from China to the UK.
- Notify each product on SCPN before selling.
- Keep the PIF updated and report serious undesirable effects.
How Cosmebatch supports your UK launch
We produce to the sample and specification you approve, apply only the brand and artwork you own, and help you gather the product information your Responsible Person and safety assessor request. Our MOQ is 144 pieces (one carton) per product, so you can launch a small, fully compliant range first. Start with how to start your own skincare line.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Making cosmetic products available to consumers in Great Britain
- GOV.UK – Submit a cosmetic product notification
- GOV.UK – Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check current OPSS guidance or a regulatory consultant before you sell.
