Cosmetics (Commercial)

Can I take Cosmetics (Commercial) across a border? Yes in many places, with conditions. Of the 118 country-rules we've indexed for Cosmetics (Commercial), 114 are allowed (often with limits), 4 are restricted (permit, declaration, or quantity cap), and 0 are prohibited outright. Customs rules depend on the destination, the purpose (travelling, posting, importing personally, or importing commercially), and the quantity.

Commercial cosmetics include makeup, skincare products, perfumes, hair care, and personal hygiene products intended for sale. The global cosmetics trade is a multi-billion dollar industry and products must comply with specific ingredient regulations, labeling requirements, and safety testing standards in each market. Cosmetics are regulated as a distinct category from pharmaceuticals in most countries — they are not required to demonstrate efficacy, but they must demonstrate safety and must not claim medical or drug properties. The boundary between cosmetic and drug claims is significant: a moisturizer that claims to keep skin hydrated is a cosmetic, but one that claims to alter skin cell biology or treat a skin disease is a drug and faces far stricter requirements. Regulatory differences between major markets are substantial. The EU's Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009) maintains a list of over 1,300 prohibited ingredients and requires safety assessments by a qualified person, product information files held by a responsible person based in the EU, and notification through the EU CPNP portal. The US FDA regulates cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requires labeling in English with full INCI ingredient names, but does not require pre-market approval or safety assessments, relying instead on post-market surveillance. China historically required animal testing for imported cosmetics, creating an ethical barrier for cruelty-free brands — cross-border e-commerce (via platforms like Tmall Global) and general trade cosmetics now have different pathways. Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act applies to cosmetics and cosmeceuticals with specific ingredient approval lists. Retinoids, hydroquinone, and certain sunscreen UV filters are approved in some markets but not others, creating significant compliance complexity for global brands.

Common mistakes with Cosmetics (Commercial)

• Assuming the rules at the origin apply at the destination — they don't. The destination customs authority is the binding rule.
• Travelling and posting are treated differently: an item you can carry may be prohibited by post (and vice versa).
• Personal vs commercial intent: above a quantity threshold, customs may treat your shipment as commercial regardless of intent.
• Undervaluing on the customs declaration to avoid duty — treated as fraud in most jurisdictions.
• Vague item descriptions on CN22/CN23 — biggest single cause of postal customs holds.
• Missing required certificates (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, prescription, product compliance).

Always verify against the destination's customs authority before acting. Not legal advice.

HS codes

• 3304 — Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin
• 3305 — Preparations for use on the hair

Regulatory trend

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1223 — EU Cosmetics Regulation ongoing ingredient bans; China CSAR 2021 new registration rules

General notes