The Indian cosmetics industry is booming. Hence, all cosmetics products have to be strictly regulated to ensure the safety of Indian consumers. Cosmetics products have to be manufactured by a licensed manufacturer and labelled and packed in accordance with Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Compliance with Indian cosmetics labelling guidelines is mandatory for marketing your cosmetics products in the Indian marketplace. Hence, we have prepared a detailed guide on Indian cosmetics labelling requirements.
Indian cosmetics labelling requirements for labelling cosmetics products
1. Subject to other provisions of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, a cosmetic product shall carry on both the inner and outer labels:
- The name of the cosmetics,
- The name of the manufacturer and complete address of the premises of the manufacturer where the cosmetic has been manufactured. If the product has not been manufactured in a factory owned by the manufacturer, the name and address of the actual manufacturer or the name of the country where it has actually been manufactured as “Made in (name of country)” should be there on the label.
Note: If the cosmetic is contained in a very small size container as 30 gm or less, if the cosmetics are in solid or semi-solid state and 60 ml or less, if the cosmetics is in liquid state where the address of the manufacturer cannot be given; the name of the manufacturer and his principal place of manufacture shall be given along with pin code.
- Use before or date of expiry (month and year) or use by or expiry date or expiry XX months from manufactured or date of manufacturing or expiry date.
2. Indian cosmetics labelling requirements also state:
- A distinctive batch number, that is to say, the number by reference to which details of manufacture of the particular batch from which the substance in the container is taken are recorded and are available for inspection, the figures representing the batch number being preceded by the letter “B” or the words “Batch No.” or “B. No.” or “Batch” or “Lot No.” or “Lot” should be mentioned on the inner or outer labels.
Note: This clause shall not apply to any cosmetics containing 10 grams or less, if the cosmetic is in solid or semi-solid state and 25 ml or less, if the cosmetic is in a liquid state. Additionally, in case of soaps, instead of the batch number, the month and year of manufacture of soap should be mentioned on the label.
- The cosmetics manufacturing licence number should be mentioned on the inner or outer labels. The number should be preceded by the letter ‘M’ or “M. L. No” or “Mfg. Lic. No.
Note: In case of imported products, if such provision is not mandatory in the country of origin, these cosmetics may be allowed without mentioning manufacturing license number, subject to fulfilment of other import regulations.
3. The outer label of the cosmetics shall carry a declaration of the net contents expressed in terms of weight for solids, fluid measure for liquids, fluid measure or weight for semi-solids, combined with numerical count if the content is sub-divided.
Note: This cosmetics labelling guideline is not applicable for the packaging of perfume, toilet water or the like, the net content of which does not exceed 60 ml or any package of solid or semi-solid cosmetic the net content of which does not exceed 30 grams.
4. In case of cosmetics with potential hazard issues, every inner label shall clearly indicate:
- Adequate directions for safe use,
- Any warning, caution, or special direction required to be observed by the consumer,
- A statement indicating the names and quantities of ingredients that are hazardous or poisonous.
5. In the case of imported cosmetics to be marketed in India, import registration certificate number shall be mentioned on the label of the unit pack preceded by letter “RC” or “RC No” or Reg. Cert. No along with name and address of the importer.
6. In case the package of a cosmetic has only one label, such label shall contain all the information required to be shown on both the inner and the outer labels, as per Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
7. In all cases, the list of ingredients, present in concentration of more than one percent, shall be listed in the descending order of weight or volume at the time they are added. This should be followed by those in concentration of less than or equal to one percent, in any order. Moreover, this should be preceded by the words ‘INGREDIENTS’.
Note: This statement need not appear for packs of less than or equal to 60 ml of liquid and 30 gm of solid and semi-solids.
8. The Indian cosmetics labelling requirements warrant cosmetics products to comply with labelling requirement, if any, specified in the relevant Indian standard as laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards‘ for the cosmetics covered under the Ninth Schedule.
9. No cosmetic shall be imported unless it is packed and labelled in conformity with the Indian cosmetics labelling requirements. Additionally, the label of imported cosmetics shall bear the registration certificate number of the product and the name and address of the registration certificate holder for marketing the said product in India.
Note: In cases where the imported cosmetics require India-specific cosmetics labelling, the same shall be allowed to be stickered on the unit pack at the bonded warehouses.
10. In case, the cosmetic is meant for export, then the labels on packages or container of the cosmetic product is required to meet the specific guidelines of law of the country to which the cosmetic is to be exported. However, the following particulars shall appear in a conspicuous manner on the label of the inner most pack of the cosmetic and every other outer covering in which the container is packed:
- Name of the cosmetic;
- The distinctive batch number or lot number or serial number preceded by the word “Lot No.” or “Lot” or “Batch No.” or “B. No.” or “Serial No.” or “B”;
- Use before or date of expiry, if any;
- The name and address of manufacturer and address of actual premises where the cosmetic has been manufactured;
- Licence number preceded by letters “Licence No. or Lic. No.”;
- internationally recognised symbols in lieu of text, wherever required.
Note: In case a cosmetic is required by the consignee to be not labelled with the name and address of the manufacturer, the labels on packages or containers shall bear a code number as approved by the state licensing authority.
Indian cosmetics labelling guidelines prohibit against altering inscription on containers, labels, or wrappers of cosmetic
The guidelines state no person shall alter, obliterate or deface any inscription or mark made or recorded by the cosmetics manufacturer on the container, label, or wrapper of any cosmetic. However, nothing in this rule shall apply to any alteration, inscription or mark made on the container, label, or wrapper of any cosmetic at the instance or direction or with the permission of the central licensing authority.
Indian cosmetics labelling guidelines prohibit the use of false or misleading claims
The Indian cosmetics labelling guidelines prohibit cosmetics product labels from presenting false or misleading claims.
Pharmadocx Consultants: Your trusted cosmetics regulatory expert
All cosmetics to be sold in India will have to be properly labelled per Indian cosmetics labelling requirements. However, the Indian cosmetics labelling guidelines can be difficult to comprehend. We at Pharmadocx Consultants have in-depth knowledge of the Indian cosmetics regulatory guidelines. Send in your queries at [email protected] or call/Whatsapp on 9996859227. We will be more than happy to resolve them. Furthermore, having over 27 years of industry experience, we have served more than 200 happy clients in the cosmetics industry. Additionally, we have helped design and setup more than 100 cosmetics factories.
