Private label cosmetics for UK brands, made in India

Brands and importers in the UK can source private label cosmetics from India, but the product must meet UK cosmetics law before it reaches a shelf in Great Britain. In Great Britain the rules are the GB version of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, enforced through the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) runs product notification. We make the product in our own facility in Ambala, Haryana, India, and prepare the technical information. The UK responsible person completes the local steps. This page explains who does what, what goes on the label and which documents to expect from us.

Who is legally responsible when you sell cosmetics in the UK?

Every cosmetic product made available to consumers in Great Britain must have a responsible person. That person makes sure the product is safe and that the legal obligations are met. GOV.UK guidance says the responsible person must have a UK established address, and that a mail forwarding address or PO box does not count.

The role can be held by a manufacturer, an importer, a distributor that sells the product under its own brand, or a company or person appointed by the manufacturer or importer. For private label products made in India, the responsible person is normally the UK brand owner, the importer or a specialist service the brand appoints. It is not us. We manufacture the product and supply the information the responsible person needs to do their job.

Northern Ireland follows a separate process. GOV.UK guidance states that for Northern Ireland the responsible person must be established in Northern Ireland or the EU, and that separate guidance applies. If you plan to sell there, ask your adviser which route fits your product.

What has to happen before products go on sale?

Three things must be in place before a product is made available in Great Britain:

1. A safety assessment and safety report. The report has two parts. Part A covers information such as ingredients, stability, packaging and likely use. Part B holds the conclusions of a suitably qualified safety assessor. The assessment must be complete before the product goes on sale.
2. A product information file (PIF). The responsible person keeps a PIF in English for every product and keeps it up to date. It includes a product description, the safety report, evidence of good manufacturing practice and evidence for the effects claimed for the product.
3. A notification to OPSS. The responsible person notifies each product through the Submit cosmetic product notifications service (SCPN) before it is placed on the market. The notification covers details such as the product category and name, the responsible person, where the PIF is kept, a contact for urgent enquiries, ingredients and any nanomaterials. Products containing nanomaterials have extra notification rules, so flag them early.

Our part is the technical input: the formula and ingredient list, specifications, stability and compatibility information, and details of how and where the product is made. The safety assessor and the responsible person use these to complete the report, the PIF and the notification.

What goes on a UK cosmetic label?

GOV.UK guidance says the required label information must be in English and easy to read. Other languages can sit alongside it. Items a UK label typically carries include:

• Responsible person. The name and address of the UK responsible person.
• Ingredient list. Ingredients using their common ingredient names. The list can appear on the outer packaging alone.
• Batch identification. A batch number or other reference that traces the product back to production.
• Nominal content. The amount by weight or volume.
• Durability. A date of minimum durability or a period-after-opening symbol, depending on the product.
• Precautions and function. Any required warnings, and the product's function where it is not clear from how it is presented.
• Country of origin. Imported products show where they were made, usually "Made in India".

Keep claims cosmetic. A claim that suggests a product acts on health can move it out of cosmetics law altogether. Have your responsible person or adviser review artwork before anything goes to print.

Which documents will your UK importer ask us for?

Requests vary by importer and product, but a UK responsible person will usually ask for some or all of these:

Our testing and documents service prepares the product paperwork. Tell us at the start that the goods are for the UK, so the document set and label are planned together. Our facility is ISO certified and GMP-compliant; these are facts about the site, not a UK approval for any product.

Which ranges suit the UK market?

Any of our ready formulas can be considered for the UK once the formula has been checked against the UK rules. Some ranges fit common UK private label briefs well:

• Skincare, from serums to moisturisers, where the INCI list and fragrance allergen data are central to the safety assessment.
• Body care, such as body wash, lotions and body butters, which suit gift and bath lines.
• Hair care, including shampoo and conditioner for brands that want a full routine.
• Hotel amenities, for hospitality buyers who want branded toiletries with a clear document trail.

Fragranced products need particular care, because allergens may need to appear in the ingredient list. Share the fragrance brief early so the allergen data is ready for the safety assessor.

How does an order to the UK work with us?

1. Brief. Tell us the products, the UK sales channels and who your responsible person will be.
2. Shortlist and sample. Choose ready formulas; samples are available on request. Ready formulas start from 500 units per product.
3. Documents. We supply the technical file inputs your safety assessor and responsible person ask for.
4. Label. Your responsible person approves artwork with English label text and their UK name and address.
5. Local steps. The responsible person completes the safety report, the PIF and the SCPN notification.
6. Production and shipment. We produce, pack and ship with the trade documents through our fulfilment and export service.

Timelines depend on whether formulas are ready or custom, how quickly samples and labels are approved, and how long the safety assessment takes. The how it works page sets out our side, and our guide to exporting cosmetics from India covers shipping, documents and labels across markets.

Next step

Send us your product list, UK channels and responsible person details through the inquiry form for UK orders. We will confirm which documents we can prepare and how we can ship. UK requirements change from time to time, so always confirm current requirements with your importer, responsible person or a regulatory adviser before you place products on the market.