Rule reference

Cosmetics Rules, 2020 — Salon / Cosmetics Compliance

RULE_DRUGS_COSMETICS

Plain-language overview for organisations checking what may apply to them. This is a reference guide — not a substitute for the official gazette or legal advice.

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Cosmetics Rules, 2020 — Salon / Cosmetics Compliance (RULE_DRUGS_COSMETICS)

Reference only — not legal advice. This page is EarthReheal WasteLedger's plain-language interpretation of the rule, written to help organisations understand what may apply to them. It can be incomplete or inaccurate. Always read the official gazette notification or statute, and confirm with your regulator or a qualified adviser, before relying on it for compliance decisions.

Quick Summary

The Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (Gazette G.S.R. 763(E), 15 December 2020) modernise licensing for manufacture of cosmetics for sale or distribution under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. New manufacturing licences use Form COS-5 (application) → Form COS-8 (licence); legacy Form 32 manufacturing licences remain valid only until expiry and must be converted to COS-8. Imported cosmetics must be CDSCO-registered (Form COS-1 → Registration Certificate COS-2). Beauty salons primarily face product-compliance duties (use only compliant/registered cosmetics), plus ordinary premises licences (Shops & Establishments, trade licence, Fire, ESI/labour as applicable). State extras exist — e.g., Maharashtra FDA has proposed retail cosmetics licensing (not confirmed as nationwide law); Delhi and other cities may impose environmental / establishment conditions on large salons. Do not confuse Form 32 with a universal "salon sale licence."

What This Rule Is

Full name: Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940).

Issuing authority: Central Government (MoHFW); CDSCO for import registration and central functions; State Licensing Authorities for domestic manufacture licences.

Notification: G.S.R. 763(E) dated 15 December 2020 — enforced w.e.f. that date (CDSCO FAQ; The Health Master training materials).

Manufacture for sale or distribution (Chapter IV of Cosmetics Rules — thc.nic.in text):

  • Apply in Form COS-5 (licence) or COS-6 (loan licence) with fees and Second Schedule documents; GMP self-certificate Form COS-7.
  • Licence granted in Form COS-8 / loan licence COS-9.
  • Pre-2020 licences on Form 32 (manufacture for sale/distribution under older Drugs Rules cosmetics provisions) remain valid till expiry; convert to COS-8 before expiry (State FDA / Health Master guidance).

Precision on "Form 32 sale licence": Form 32 was the manufacturing licence certificate to manufacture cosmetics for sale or distribution — not a retail shop/salon sales registration under Cosmetics Rules 2020. CDSCO FAQs do not describe a national salon retail "Form 32" sales licence. If briefing notes say "Form 32 sale licence," read it historically as manufacture-for-sale, and use COS-8 for current manufacture licensing.

Import:

  • Register products/site via Form COS-1 → Form COS-2 Import Registration Certificate (CDSCO SUGAM).
  • Importers/marketers must ensure labels carry registration particulars as required; selling unregistered imported cosmetics risks enforcement.

Salon / parlour overlay (not Cosmetics Rules manufacturing):

  • Use only cosmetics that are lawfully manufactured/imported (no banned ingredients — e.g., lead-acetate dye restrictions under CDSCO actions).
  • Premises typically need Shops & Establishments registration, municipal trade licence, Fire NOC where triggered by area/height, and labour registrations (ESI/EPF) when employee thresholds are met — see RULE_SHOPS_ESTABLISHMENTS / RULE_FIRE_SAFETY.
  • Maharashtra FDA (Indian Express, 2017 reporting): proposed mandatory licences for cosmetics retailers including parlours — required central-law amendment path; treat as proposal / State advocacy, not confirmed operative national retail-licence mandate unless a later Gazette is verified.
  • Delhi / other ULBs: large salons may face additional environmental consent or trade conditions — confirm requirements with local MCD/DPCC (or successor) and licensing departments.

Policy purpose: ensure cosmetics placed on the Indian market are manufactured/imported under licence/registration with labelling and safety controls; salons as end-users must not apply non-compliant products.

Who This Applies To

  • Manufacturers of cosmetics in India — COS-5/COS-8 track.
  • Importers — COS-1/COS-2 track.
  • Salons / beauty parlours — product-compliance + municipal/labour licences (EarthReheal WasteLedger N19 pack).
  • Retailers — generally no separate Cosmetics Rules retail licence nationally; watch State proposals.

State-Level Variations

Manufacture licensing is State SLA-administered under central Rules. Retail licensing proposals (MH FDA) and municipal salon conditions (Delhi and others) are state/city-variable. Storage-condition circulars from State FDAs may add expectations for cosmetics warehouses — confirm with local FDA.

Compliance Requirements — What You Actually Have to Do

Manufacturers: convert Form 32 → COS-8 if legacy; else obtain COS-8 via COS-5/COS-7; upload licence particulars as required; label with Mfg. Lic. No.

Importers / brands: hold valid COS-2 (or COS-4A import registration number pathway where applicable per CDSCO FAQ); do not sell unregistered imports.

Salons:

  1. Source only compliant/registered cosmetics; run periodic product-compliance audits.
  2. Maintain S&E / trade / Fire / ESI evidence as triggered.
  3. Segregate chemical wastes under RULE_HWM_2016 / RULE_PWM_2022 / SWM as applicable.
  4. Check State FDA / municipal extras (MH retail-licence status; Delhi EC/trade conditions).

Penalties & Enforcement

Manufacture/import/sale of cosmetics in contravention of the Act/Rules attracts Drugs and Cosmetics Act penalties and CDSCO/State FDA action (seizure, prosecution, licence cancellation). Salon use of banned/non-compliant products can trigger FDA sampling and local licence consequences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does every salon need a Cosmetics Form COS-8? A: No — COS-8 is for manufacturing. Salons that only apply purchased products need product compliance + premises licences, not a manufacturing licence (unless they manufacture).

Q: Can we use imported products without checking registration? A: No — imported cosmetics must be CDSCO-registered; keep invoice + registration evidence.

Q: Is Maharashtra retail cosmetics licensing live? A: As of the 2017 Indian Express report it was a proposal needing central amendment. Re-verify current MH FDA notifications before asserting it is mandatory.

Government / Official Sources

Related Rules

  • RULE_DRUGS_ACT — drug sale licences (not cosmetics manufacture).
  • RULE_HWM_2016 / RULE_PWM_2022 / RULE_SWM_2026 — salon wastes.
  • RULE_SHOPS_ESTABLISHMENTS / RULE_FIRE_SAFETY — premises.

Additional Reference Content

Secondary sources (law firm explainers, news, consultancy blogs, or official-body sites on a non-.gov.in/.nic.in domain) — useful context, not primary legal authority.

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