— Services —

UK Cosmetics
Compliance Services

regulation

UK Cosmetics Regulation

notification portal

SCPN

Markets covered

UK

REady in

2–3 weeks
— TRC, your trusted compliance partner

All-in Responsible Person services including Safety Assessments

Benefit from our all-in full-service solutions with our in-house PIF services, Safety Assessment (CPSR), label and claim review, SCPN notification, and including UK Responsible Person services.

A fast track service. We can be ready for notification in the UK in 2-3 weeks after all required input information has been shared. These timelines also apply in case of transfer to TRC as the new Responsible Person (RP).

In-house Compliance and Safety Assessments & RP services in 1

Combine your Safety Assessment and Responsible Person services within one expert team. This reduces duplicated work, as the same team reviews your formulations and compliance documentation, resulting in shorter lead times, lower costs and clear responsibilities. When formulations, labels or other product information change, updates can also be assessed and managed within the same team.

Label Content Briefs

For each product, we share an up to date label content brief for every artwork production to ensure all mandatory content is included on your product labels including the ingredient list, mandatory warnings/instructions and other details. Easy to share in your label design process.

Codified RP details

Our UK RP details are presented in a concise format (“codified”) to minimise the impact on your design, and to avoid confusing or distracting the consumer. For the UK, the required label text is simply “TRC UK EC2V 6AA UK”. No additional UK address details are required.

Targeted compliance and safety monitoring

Instead of sending generic regulatory alerts, we notify you only when action is relevant to your portfolio.TRC keeps track of amendments that impact your products and formulations. We tell you exactly which products are impacted, how they are affected and what action is required, so you can manage remaining stock and adapt your products in time to meet new requirements.

CPSR reports, updated on request, included in our services fees

With TRC, your safety documentation stays aligned with your products. When relevant changes are made to formulations, ingredients or suppliers, we can update your CPSR on request. This means you can also have an up-to-date CPSR ready when requested by the authorities.

Powered by PRIMS Compliance and Safety Software

Managing change is complex and cannot do without software to manage continued compliance and safety. Changes/adjustments in products, formulations, raw materials, packaging, suppliers, labels, claims and regulatory amendments all happen simultaneously and impact each other.

— The TRC method

Compliant in 5 steps.

Our structured compliance process removes complexity and creates a clear, easy pathway to market – in every jurisdiction, powered by PRIMS Compliance and Safety Software in every step.

The process aligns with the requirements of the regulations and includes all the prerequisite services needed for compliance and safety as needed for your portfolio:

1

Prescan

Initial assessment of your formulations, product label and marketing requirements, discuss your product dossiers.

2

PIF Building

Compilation and structuring of a complete PIF, including all required technical documentation and records.

3

CPSR

Safety Assessment and Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) by qualified in-house toxicologists and safety assessors.

4

Label & Claim Review

Regulatory review of product labelling, INCI ingredient listings and marketing claims prior to market launch.

5

Notification / Listing

Submission of product notifications and listings through CPNP (EU), SCPN (UK), FDA systems (USA) or Health Canada.

— About the regulations —

What is the UK Cosmetics Regulation?

Cosmetic products in the UK are regulated under the UK Cosmetics Regulation, which is based on Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and amended by the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

Over time we have seen, and will continue to see more amendments creating further divergence from the EU Cosmetics Regulations. It is important to manage your portfolio compliance specifically for the UK independently from the EU, and have products notified for the UK in SCPN.

UK manufacturers and UK importers (for products manufactured outside the UK) are by definition considered to be the Responsible Person (RP) including the associated legal liability. RPs are required to ensure full product compliance and safety, and to demonstrate this at all times.

The Regulatory Company is contracted/appointed by many non-UK brand-owners, and mandated by many UK-importers to take over and act as the Responsible Person.

Brexit and the impact on the Cosmetics Industry

On January 1st 2021, the UK implemented its own cosmetics regulation. The UK regulation is very similar to the current EU Cosmetics Regulations. However, references to the EU have been replaced; English is the only accepted language of communication; Product Informaton Files (PIF’s) have to be maintained up-to-date and made available to the UK authorities in English; the Responsible Person for the UK has to be UK based; and products have to be notified in SCPN (the UK equivalent to the EU CPNP).

Over the past years, and in the years to come, we foresee further divergence between the UK and the EU. Divergence will for example increase in the regulatory thresholds and bans for individual substances, and the day-to-day inspection practices by authorities.

Legal basis

UK Cosmetics Regulation

RP requirement

Mandatory — must be established in the UK

Notification

SCPN before first product placement

Geographic scope

Great Britain: England, Scotland & Wales

— Key requirements

What are the UK Cosmetics Regulation requirements?

 

For each individual product that is available in the UK, the Responsible Person (RP) is required to ensure full product compliance and safety and to be able to demonstrate it at all times. The RP must be a UK legal entity (a person/company established in the UK).

Product Information File (PIF)

The Responsible Person (RP) must be in possession of the full dossier for each cosmetic product on the UK market. The dossier contains essential information regarding the composition, raw materials, purity, safety (toxicology), stability, claim support, etc. The dossier can be regarded as a product’s “passport” for the UK market. Product dossiers must be available at all times for inspection by the competent authorities at the premises of the RP within 72 hours after the request.

Regulatory Compliance & Safety Assessment (products & raw materials)

The Responsible Person must ensure that each product has been assessed and has proven to be compliant and safe for consumer use before it is placed on the market. This assessment must be performed by a qualified “Competent Person” according to the set of rules provided in the Annex of the regulation. The Competent Person must hold a degree in toxicology or equivalent qualification in related health sciences.

Correct labeling and consumer information (including product claims)

Cosmetic products on the UK market must be labelled according to strictly defined requirements. The label content depends on the product characteristics, the individual raw materials and substances, the PIF and the related CPSR. The name and the address of the RP must be displayed on the product label. Product marketing claims communicated to consumers must be in line with UK requirements and guidelines, must be supported with scientific evidence, and cannot claim any pharmacological (medical) effect.

Product notification in SCPN

Cosmetic products must be notified to the competent authorities by electronic means. These notifications (often called registrations) must be submitted centrally by or on behalf of the RP in through the UK Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) portal before the products are introduced on the UK market.

Cosmetovigilance

‍The RP must continuously monitor, record and evaluate (post-marketing surveillance) all potential health-related undesirable effects (consumer complaints) resulting from the use of the cosmetic products. The cosmetovigilance records must be regularly evaluated and re-assessed with respect to product safety.

Continuous updates and monitoring

Any changes/adjustments to the product and/or relevant legislation must be assessed and reflected in the PIF, the Regulatory Compliance and Safety Assessment, labels and claims, and the SCPN notification, to ensure continued compliance.

digital first

powered by PRIMS software

experience

15+ years

Responsible Person

5000+ products

portfolio

all product types
— all-in services —

4 key markets, 30+ countries

European Union

Cosmetics Regulation EC 1223/2009

United Kingdom

UK Cosmetics Regulation 2019

United States

MoCRA (federal) & state level Regs.

Canada

Canada Cosmetics Regulation

individual services
Safety & Compliance Assessment (CPSR)

Full cosmetic compliance and safety assessments and reports (CPSR part A and part B) by qualified in-house toxicologists, continuously updated.

REACH / CLP (EU, UK)

REACH and CLP compliance reviews, supplier verification and substance assessments on product or portfolio level.

Training, Consulting & Outsourcing

Regulatory training, strategic consultancy and outsourced regulatory affairs support for your team.

PPWR (EU)

Integrated centralised product and packaging compliance service powered by PRIMS Compliance Software

Common questions about UK compliance

One UK Responsible Person covers Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. A single TRC UK RP appointment gives you access to the GB cosmetics market and supports compliance with the applicable UK cosmetics requirements.

When TRC acts as your UK Responsible Person, the codified address on your label is: TRC UK EC2V 6AA UK. This concise format meets the applicable UK labelling requirement while keeping label space clean.

Once TRC has received all required information and documentation from you, we can typically have your product ready for SCPN notification within 2–3 weeks. The timeline for building the PIF and producing the CPSR varies by product complexity and the availability of safety data.

Yes. When TRC is your ongoing Responsible Person, updates to your CPSR required by regulatory changes — such as new Annex restrictions or updated SCCS opinions — are covered within your service fee. You will not be invoiced separately for routine compliance maintenance.

Since Brexit, the UK and EU are separate regulatory regimes requiring separate notifications and separate Responsible Persons. However, TRC can manage both markets in a coordinated way from a single process, reducing duplication of effort.

TRC monitors regulatory amendments as part of our ongoing RP service. When changes affect your products — for example new restrictions in the Annexes — we notify you proactively and manage any required updates to your PIF and SCPN notifications.

— Get in touch —

Take your next step towards UK compliance

Discuss with an expert to know more about compliance in the UK and to get started. Schedule a free discovery call.