The Central Drugs Control Organization recently released an FAQ document concerning the queries of the concerned stakeholders regarding the new Cosmetic Rules 2020. The FAQ section covers questions related to the import of cosmetics in the country and their sale across Indian markets.

With the introduction of the SUGAM portal in the previous year, different activities related to the registration of cosmetic products have been shifted to the online platform and made very easy to conduct and comprehend.

The reduction of overall paperwork and the simple classification of cosmetics under the new act gives the manufacturers and importers a better opportunity to expand their area of operation. Moreover, with the introduction of a new voluntary recall policy the new cosmetic rules have further ensured the ease of marketing operations and imbibing trust among sellers and buyers.

The implementation of these new cosmetic rules has changed the procedure of import of cosmetic kits by a small margin.

Any importer of cosmetics who now wants to import and sell cosmetics kits in the country should have all the products of the kit already registered under the new rules.

If the products present in the kit are registered under the previous rule, the importer shall obtain fresh registration for each of such cosmetic products that are not registered under cosmetic rules 2020.

The entire kit where each of its component cosmetic products is registered under new cosmetic rules 2020 also doesn’t require any registration. However, if the manufacturer/importer wants to obtain a cosmetic registration for the kit as a whole, the same shall be granted without any extra fees to be paid.

Cosmetics imported in the form of kits that are already registered under the cosmetic rules 2020 are exempted from registration.