The Great Britain cosmetics market operates under a dedicated post-Brexit regulatory framework, largely derived from EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 but with increasingly distinct UK requirements. Every cosmetic product placed on the Great Britain market must have a UK-established Responsible Person and must be notified through the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) service before being made available to consumers. As of May 2026, more than 861,000 cosmetic product notifications had been submitted through SCPN by over 24,000 registered Responsible Persons, highlighting the scale of the UK cosmetics market.
Core compliance requirements include:
- A UK Responsible Person
- A Product Information File (PIF) maintained in English
- A Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) completed by a qualified safety assessor
- Compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
- SCPN product notification before market placement
- Compliant labelling, ingredients and cosmetic claims
The PIF must remain available for 10 years after the last batch is placed on the market, while the Responsible Person is also responsible for reporting serious undesirable effects and ensuring that marketing claims can be substantiated.
UK requirements are also evolving independently from EU cosmetics legislation. In 2026, Great Britain introduced further restrictions on cosmetic ingredients, including new prohibitions and restrictions on certain CMR substances and UV filters, underscoring the need to continuously review formulations and regulatory updates rather than relying solely on EU compliance.
Importantly, Great Britain and Northern Ireland follow different cosmetics regimes. Products placed on the GB market use the SCPN system and require a UK-established Responsible Person. In contrast, cosmetics placed on the Northern Ireland market remain subject to EU-aligned rules, including notification through the EU CPNP and a Responsible Person established in Northern Ireland or the EEA.
Frequently Asked Questions
To place a cosmetic product on the Great Britain market, manufacturers must comply with the applicable UK Cosmetics Regulation. Key requirements include appointing a UK Responsible Person, ensuring the product formulation complies with UK ingredient restrictions, preparing and maintaining a compliant Product Information File (PIF), completing the required product safety assessment, ensuring compliant labelling, and submitting the product through the SCPN notification portal before it is made available to consumers.
Yes. Cosmetic manufacturers established outside the UK that intend to place their products on the Great Britain market need an appropriate Responsible Person to ensure that the products meet applicable UK regulatory requirements. The UK Responsible Person is responsible for key compliance activities, including maintaining regulatory documentation, verifying product compliance, supporting safety obligations and completing the required SCPN product notification.
The Responsible Person also acts as an important point of contact between the cosmetic brand and the relevant UK authorities.
Before market entry, each cosmetic product must be supported by regulatory and safety documentation demonstrating its compliance. This includes a Product Information File (PIF), which contains information relating to the product’s formulation, manufacturing, safety, claims and supporting evidence.
A product safety assessment must also demonstrate that the cosmetic product is safe for its intended use. Depending on the product, supporting evidence may include appropriate lab testing, a Product Safety Report, formulation checks and other technical documentation. Manufacturers should ensure that this information is complete and kept up to date throughout the product’s lifecycle.
UK cosmetics compliance does not end once a product has been notified and launched. Manufacturers and their Responsible Person should continue monitoring regulatory changes, ingredient restrictions, safety information and product documentation.
Changes to a formulation, packaging or product information may require a new Cosmetics Formula Review, Label Review or updates to the Product Information File and SCPN notification. Packaging should also be reviewed for applicable recycling symbols and environmental labelling requirements, while appropriate laboratory testing can help support continued product safety and compliance.
