Cosmetics
Cosmetics manufacturing licence, application to grant
Layout, technical staff, in-house testing and documentation prepared so the State Licensing Authority inspection is a formality.
- Authority
- State Licensing Authority
- Governing rules
- Cosmetics Rules, 2020 made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
- Typical timeline
- 2 to 5 months including facility readiness
Cosmetics Manufacturing Licence (Form COS-5 to COS-8): what it involves
Manufacturing cosmetics for sale or distribution in India requires a licence under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. The application is made to the State Licensing Authority in Form COS-5, and the licence is granted in Form COS-8. Businesses that manufacture using another licensee's premises apply for a loan licence instead.
The requirements that decide the outcome are physical and organisational rather than clerical: adequate and properly segregated space for each operation, a water system suitable for cosmetic manufacture, an in-house testing arrangement, and competent technical staff with the qualifications the rules specify. We assess all four before filing, so the inspection does not become an education.
Who needs this
- New cosmetics and personal care manufacturing units
- Brands moving from contract manufacturing to their own plant
- Contract manufacturers adding cosmetic categories
- Ayurvedic and herbal personal care manufacturers
- Existing licensees adding new categories or a new section
- Businesses needing a loan licence on another manufacturer's premises
Documentation
Documents required
Arrange these and the file moves. We tell you exactly which format each one has to be in, and we draft the technical annexures ourselves.
- Application in Form COS-5 with the prescribed fee
- Plant layout showing area, segregation and material flow
- List of cosmetic categories and products to be manufactured
- Composition of each product with the function of each ingredient
- List of manufacturing and testing equipment
- Details of the in-house testing facility or the arrangement with an approved laboratory
- Qualification and experience records of the technical staff
- Water supply arrangement and test report
- Proof of ownership or tenancy of the premises
- Constitution documents of the applicant firm
- Non-animal testing declaration
How we work
The process, stage by stage
Indicative durations for a file where documents arrive on time. We tell you at the outset which stage is most likely to slip in your case.
- 1
Category and facility scoping
1 to 2 weeksWe fix the cosmetic categories you intend to manufacture and translate them into area, segregation, equipment and testing requirements.
- 2
Layout and site readiness
2 to 4 weeksThe layout is designed or corrected for the categories in scope, covering raw material stores, manufacturing, filling, packing, quarantine, finished goods and the testing area.
- 3
Technical staff and testing setup
1 to 3 weeksWe help you appoint technical staff who meet the qualification requirements and structure the in-house laboratory or the outsourced testing arrangement.
- 4
Form COS-5 filing
2 to 3 daysThe application is filed with the State Licensing Authority along with the complete annexure set and fees.
- 5
Inspection and grant of COS-8
1 to 3 monthsWe prepare the unit for inspection, attend it, respond to observations and follow the file through to grant of the licence in Form COS-8.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a manufacturing licence and a loan licence?
A manufacturing licence is granted to a business that manufactures on its own premises. A loan licence is granted to a business that does not own manufacturing facilities and uses the premises of another licensee. The loan licence route is faster to obtain but leaves you dependent on the host unit's compliance.
Do I need my own testing laboratory?
You need an adequate arrangement for testing raw materials and finished products. Many units run a basic in-house laboratory for routine parameters and use an approved external laboratory for the rest. The arrangement has to be documented as part of the application.
Can one licence cover soaps, creams and shampoos together?
A single licence can cover multiple categories, but each has to be endorsed and the facility must have the space, equipment and segregation for each. Adding a category later requires an endorsement application.
Is animal testing permitted for cosmetics manufactured in India?
No. Testing cosmetics on animals is prohibited in India, and a declaration to that effect forms part of the licensing position.
Related services
Often taken together with this
Cosmetics Import Licence & Compliance
Everything after registration: agent appointment, Indian labelling, consignment documentation and customs readiness.
Typical timeline · 2 to 4 weeks for labelling and consignment readiness, once registered
Read moreCDSCO Cosmetics Import Registration
Register imported cosmetic brands with CDSCO under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, from authorised agent to COS-2 certificate.
Typical timeline · 3 to 6 months from a complete dossier
Read morePlant Setup Consultancy
Site selection to first commercial batch, with licensing running in parallel rather than as an afterthought.
Typical timeline · 6 to 15 months from concept to first commercial batch
Read moreTell us what you are manufacturing. We will tell you what you need.
Share your product category, premises and turnover. You will get a written scope covering the exact licences that apply, the documents to arrange, and a realistic timeline.