CDSCO & BIS Approval for Importing Korean Cosmetics to India (2026): Registration Steps, Fees, Timelines & Labels
CDSCO registration is the gate between 'personal K-beauty haul' and 'legal Indian cosmetics business'. This guide explains exactly what CDSCO requires, where BIS standards come in, which ingredients get products rejected, and how to sequence it with your first commercial shipment.
Key takeaways
- Commercial import of cosmetics into India requires a CDSCO Import Registration Certificate (Form COS-2) applied for via Form COS-1 by the Indian importer or the Korean manufacturer's authorised agent.
- Registration is per manufacturer and per product category, with a government fee per category and multi-year validity; plan 2–4 months.
- BIS Indian Standards (IS) define quality specs for many cosmetic categories and label rules under Schedule S; products must conform though BIS 'certification' is not a separate licence for most cosmetics.
- Rejections come from prohibited ingredients (e.g. hydroquinone, certain steroids, mercury compounds, some colours), missing free-sale certificates and non-compliant labels — pre-screen INCI lists before filing.
Quick answer
To import Korean cosmetics commercially into India, the importer (or the manufacturer's authorised Indian agent) must obtain a CDSCO Import Registration Certificate (Form COS-2) by filing Form COS-1 on the SUGAM portal for each manufacturer and product category, with manufacturer details, product/ingredient lists, free-sale certificates and label artwork. Products must conform to Indian Standards (IS) and Schedule S labelling, and must not contain prohibited ingredients. Processing takes about 2–4 months. Personal-use imports skip this entirely. ShipKorea.in guides the documentation and ships registered stock DDP at ₹1,500/kg.
Legal basis: Cosmetics Rules 2020
The Cosmetics Rules 2020 (under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940) govern import, manufacture and sale of cosmetics in India. Chapter III requires that no cosmetic be imported unless registered with the Central Licensing Authority (CDSCO). Registration applies per manufacturer (the Korean brand's manufacturing site — often an ODM like Cosmax or Kolmar) and per product category as classified in the Rules (e.g. skin care, hair care, lipsticks, face powders, nail products). Variants and shades within a category are listed under one registration.
Who applies and what you submit
Applicant: the Indian importer, or the Korean manufacturer through an authorised Indian agent (a power of attorney/authorisation letter is required either way). Documents: Form COS-1 application; covering letter; manufacturer's registration/licence and free-sale certificate from Korea (showing the product is legally marketed — Korean MFDS notification status supports this); list of products with brand names, pack sizes and categories; ingredient list per product (INCI names acceptable) with percentages; label and pack artwork (original and proposed Indian labels); undertaking on non-testing on animals; specifications/testing methods or conformity to relevant IS standards; the applicable government fee per category (paid online); and a challan copy. Filing is on the CDSCO SUGAM portal; queries are raised online and must be answered promptly.
Timelines, fees and validity
Realistic timeline is 2–4 months including query rounds; well-prepared applications with complete Korean documents clear faster. A government fee applies per manufacturer/category (payable in USD or INR equivalent); adding products to an existing registration attracts a smaller fee. The certificate is valid for a multi-year term (five years under the 2020 Rules) unless suspended, and must be renewed before expiry. Keep copies for customs — the registration number is checked at Bill of Entry and must appear on the Indian label.
Where BIS comes in
Cosmetics in India must conform to the relevant Indian Standard specifications listed in the Ninth Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules (e.g. IS 6608 skin creams, IS 7884 shampoos, IS 9875 lipsticks, IS 8351 sunscreens' related standards) where such standards exist, and to Schedule S labelling requirements. For most imported cosmetics there is no separate BIS licence or BIS mark requirement; conformity is declared and can be tested by the CDSCO port officer or drug inspectors. Exceptions: products marketed with medicinal claims (become 'drugs' → CDSCO drug import licence), certain toothpastes/soaps under BIS quality control orders, and any electric beauty device (BIS CRS as electronics). Do not confuse 'BIS registration for cosmetics' with the electronics CRS scheme.
Ingredient and claim restrictions
Prohibited or restricted in Indian cosmetics: hydroquinone (skin lightening), corticosteroids, mercury compounds beyond trace limits, certain colours not in the permitted list, lead/heavy-metal limits, some preservatives at Korean-permitted but Indian-restricted levels, and claims that make the product a 'drug' (treating acne, whitening as a therapeutic claim, hair regrowth). Sunscreens are cosmetics in India but SPF claims must be substantiated. Products containing 'snail secretion', 'centella', 'niacinamide', 'PDRN' and 'retinol' (at cosmetic levels) are generally acceptable when labelled as cosmetics. Pre-screen every INCI list — we can connect you to consultants who do this quickly.
Labelling under Schedule S and Legal Metrology
Indian label requirements: product name; manufacturer's name and address; importer's name and address; CDSCO registration certificate number; batch/lot number; manufacturing date and 'use before'/expiry (≥ 24 months products may omit expiry in some cases — check); net content; ingredient list in descending order (INCI); directions and warnings where required; and, under Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, MRP inclusive of all taxes, month/year of import, country of origin and customer-care contact. Labels must be in English (Hindi optional) and applied before customs clearance or under bond at a licensed warehouse. We over-sticker at our Seoul hub before dispatch.
Sequencing with your first shipment
Do not ship commercial stock before COS-2 is issued — customs will hold or re-export it. Order sample/personal-use quantities (not for resale) to test the market while CDSCO is processing; prepare label artwork and marketplace onboarding; then import your first 50–100 kg DDP once registered. ShipKorea coordinates with your Korean supplier for free-sale certificates and ingredient sheets, checks batch and expiry, applies labels and clears Indian customs with your registration. Related: import Korean cosmetics for resale, Korean cosmetics wholesale service.
Personal use, samples and grey imports
Personal-use quantities (a few units per product) need no CDSCO registration; duty and IGST still apply and our flat ₹1,500/kg cosmetics rate covers them — see import cosmetics from Korea to India. Reselling personal imports, or importing under a friend's name to skip registration, is illegal and increasingly detected via marketplace audits. Testing samples for CDSCO filing can be imported in small quantities with a test-licence/declaration route — ask us.
Frequently asked questions
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Import Cosmetics from Korea to India — Complete 2026 Guide (K-Beauty, CDSCO, Duty, Delivery)
How to Import Korean Cosmetics for Resale (2026): Wholesale Suppliers, MOQ, CDSCO & Landed Cost for Indian Sellers
