Selling imported cosmetics in India—whether on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, or your own D2C brand website—requires strict compliance with CDSCO rules. The most important requirement is obtaining a Cosmetic Import License, officially issued under Form 42 by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
If you’re planning to import skincare, makeup, perfumes, haircare, or Korean beauty products, this checklist will help you stay compliant and avoid penalties, product listing blocks, or shipment seizures at customs.
A Cosmetic Import License (Form 42) is an approval issued by CDSCO that allows businesses to legally import cosmetic products into India.
Without this license, Amazon and customs authorities will not allow you to sell or bring cosmetic goods into the country.
Below is the step-by-step checklist you must follow before importing or selling cosmetics online in India.
You must have:
These documents establish that you are a legal business eligible to apply for a Cosmetic Import License.
If you are importing from:
…you need a local authorized agent in India unless you are the importer yourself.
This person/company will represent the foreign manufacturer before CDSCO.
CDSCO needs full details of the foreign manufacturer:
This verifies that the products are manufactured under approved standards.
Each cosmetic product must include a detailed list:
Products without a complete ingredient list will not be approved.
Ensure labels follow Indian cosmetic standards:
Amazon often rejects listings if label compliance is missing.
Depending on product category, you may need:
These documents prove the product is safe for Indian consumers.
Issued by the authority in the exporting country stating:
This is required by CDSCO for license approval.
You must apply on the CDSCO SUGAM Portal by uploading:
Once approved, CDSCO issues the Cosmetic Import License (Form 42).
Before the shipment arrives:
Shipments without a valid Cosmetic Import License are often seized or destroyed.
Amazon asks for:
Without these, your listing may get “Hazardous product restricted” error.
Getting a Cosmetic Import License is essential for anyone importing cosmetics into India—especially Amazon sellers and D2C brands. With the right documents and compliance, your products can get approval quickly, helping you scale your business legally and safely.
To learn more about cosmetic import license in Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh we recommend you to visit Metacorp as it solve legal and compliance issues of new and established businesses.
We are the pioneers in offering environmental consulting services to our patrons, giving us the first mover advantage & keeping us ahead of our competitors.
Very experienced in filing, monitoring & submission of CDSCO Compliances, Drugs Manufacturing & sale guidelines, Environmental Impact Assessment, AERB consulting services, Pollution Control Board CTE & CTO Advisory Services, Waste Management Authorization from State Pollution Control Boards, Fertilizers & Insecticides Manufacturing, Wholesale & Import Compliances
807 627 2381
