What Are the New Rules?
India's top drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has directed all states and union territories to increase surveillance on imported cosmetics. The goal is to stop the sale of products that do not have a valid import registration
certificate. Under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, any brand or importer wanting to sell foreign-made cosmetics in India must first register their products with the CDSCO. This process involves submitting detailed information about the product, including its ingredient list, safety data, and manufacturing details, to receive a registration certificate (Form COS-2), which is mandatory for legal import and sale.
Why the Sudden Crackdown?
This move is driven by a growing number of complaints about sub-standard, counterfeit, and unregistered cosmetics flooding the market, particularly through online channels. These illicit products pose significant health risks to consumers as they may contain harmful or prohibited ingredients like heavy metals, or be manufactured in unhygienic conditions. Raids conducted by state regulators, such as in Maharashtra, have uncovered fake products being sold without authorisation, confirming the scale of the problem. Experts estimate that counterfeit and grey market goods make up a staggering 20-25% of India's beauty market, which is valued at over $20 billion. The crackdown aims to protect public health and ensure a level playing field for brands that comply with the law.
How This Impacts Online and Offline Sellers
Sellers of unregistered cosmetics, whether on Instagram, in local markets, or on major e-commerce platforms, face serious penalties. Authorities can seize product stock, suspend business licenses, and impose hefty fines. In severe cases, particularly if a product is found to be harmful, it can lead to imprisonment for up to three years or more. For online marketplaces, the rules mean they must delist any unverified sellers or products. The CDSCO has previously issued notices to platforms like Amazon and Flipkart for allowing the sale of spurious cosmetics. This new directive intensifies the pressure on all retailers to ensure their entire cosmetic inventory is legally registered.
How to Be a Smart and Safe Shopper
As a consumer, this regulatory tightening is good news, but vigilance remains key. To ensure you're buying a genuine, registered product, check the label carefully. Legally imported cosmetics must have a label that includes the import registration number, the name and address of the importer in India, the country of origin, the batch number, and the manufacturing and expiry dates. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, especially from unauthorised sellers offering huge discounts. Always buy from authorised retailers or the brand's official Indian website. If the packaging looks flimsy, has spelling errors, or the product's texture or scent seems off, you may be looking at a fake.
The Bigger Picture: From Creams to Injections
This crackdown on unregistered cosmetics is part of a broader push by the CDSCO to regulate the entire beauty and wellness industry. Recently, the regulator also issued a strong clarification that products administered via injection, such as glutathione drips or skin boosters, cannot be classified or sold as cosmetics. Under Indian law, cosmetics are strictly for external application—things you rub, pour, or spray on the body. Anything injected is regulated as a drug or medical device, requiring a much higher standard of approval and professional administration. This highlights the government's increasing focus on safeguarding consumers from unsafe practices across the entire spectrum of beauty treatments.
