💄 Cosmetics Import Registration 📑 Packaging Labelling Guidelines 🥇 Consultant in New Delhi India

PACKAGING AND LABELLING OF COSMETICS

Packaging is an activity which includes designing and producing the container or wrapper of the product. Labeling involves providing verbal information about the product and the seller. Nowadays Packaging and Labeling has become very significant as it is being used as a marketing tool to attract the consumers. There are possibilities that sellers try to deceive and mislead the consumers through packaging and labeling. In order to prevent the exploitation of consumers and to standardize the bare minimum material information the government has enacted the Consumer Protection act, 1986. The Act outlines the six major rights of the Consumers. Out of which, ‘Right to Information’ and ‘Right to Consumer Education’ are the major rights which the sellers or manufacturers are supposed to keep in mind while Packaging and labeling their products. Packaging is also done from the point of view of creating a trademark for the products.

LAWS APPLICABLE

Packaging and Labeling Laws applicable specifically in case of ‘Cosmetics’ are as follows:

The Legal Metrology Rules, 2011 which was passed under section 52(2) of The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 provides for the general packaging rules for the packaged commodities. Since the key focus area of the study is ‘Cosmetics’, hence the relevant applicable laws are The Drugs & Cosmetic Rules passed under section 12 and 33 of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act and supplementary labeling guidelines requirement as provided under relevant BIS2.The BIS is national standards authority of India which formulate, recognize or promote the Indian Standards.

GENERAL REQUIREMETS UNDER THE LEGAL METROLOGY (PACKAGED COMMODITIES) RULES, 2011 AND DRUGS & COSMETICS RULE

The following table represents the general categories of labeling contents, manner of its declarations and the pictorial examples thereto:

Categories	Manner of declarations	Examples
Common or generic name of the product.	• Name of Cosmetics on both inner and outer labels • if package has more than 1 product, name (and number of quantity) of each product to be mentioned on package.	Yardley London Body spray for Men
Name & address of Manufacturer	• On both inner and outer labels • “Manufactured by….” Or “Packed by…” • Name of the Manufacturer. • Complete address of the premises where the product was manufactured • Additionally, name and address of the packer or/and importer in relevant cases. • If the size of the container is small- name + principal place of manufacture+ the pin code.	Cinthol Deo Spray -Manufacturing and marketing address.
Manufacture Date	• Date of Manufacture, or Prepacked or Import of commodity • Rubber stamp can be used, but without overwriting. • On both inner and outer label.	Fogg Body Spray
Expiry date	• “Use before … (Month and year)”- has to be labelled or the Expiry date.3 • On both inner and outer label.	Ayur Cleansing Milk
Net Quantity	• Standard unit of weight or measure • On outer Label. • Weight of wrappers/containersexcluded. • “Net Quantity”- if the commodity is not likely to vary on account of environmental conditions. • If likely to vary- “When Packed” • If package capacity is less than 10 cubic cm or less – quantity declaration to be made on tag, card, tape etc. • No Declaration required:- If the net content of the package of perfume, toilet water or the like, is less than 60 ml or 30 gm. • Area surrounding the quantity declaration should be free from printed information. (Rule 8(1) of LM (packaging rules, 2011) • The maximum permissible error, in excess or in deficiency should be as per Schedule one of L.M. (Packaging) Rules 2011. • In case of wholesale packages, the total number/ net quantity of retail package contained.	Axe Deodorant Body Spray Pears Bathing Bar
Retail Sale Price	• Packages’ containing alcoholic beverages or spirituous liquor – State Excise laws applies. • For reducing MRP, a sticker with revised MRP may be affixed inclusive of all taxes. • But such sticker should not cover the MRP declaration by manufacturer or packer on the package.	Fiama Di Wills Gel Bar Axe Deodorant Body Spray.
Batch number	• Batch number not required- If cosmetic is of 10 grams or 25 milliliters or less. • Soaps- instead of batch number, the month and year of manufacture may be given.	SantoorBody Deodorant
Warning or Caution if hazard exists	• On the inner label. • Directions for sale use • A statement of names and quantities of the hazardous or poisonous ingredients.	Dettol Liquid Hand Wash
Manufacturing License Number	Preceded by letter “M”.	Santoor Hand Wash
Ingredients	• Preceded by the word “INGREDIENTS” • Ingredients present in concentration of more than 1% - listed in the descending order of weight/volume. • Followed by- those in concentration of less than or equal to 1%, in any order. • Not required to appear for the packs of less than 60 ml or 30 gm.	Ingredients of a Deodorant bottle in descending order of its volume
Registration Certificate Number (RCN)	• Only the label of imported cosmetics should bear RCN of the product. • The name and address of the registration certificate holder for marketing the said product in India.	Nivea Men Deodorant
Consumer Care Details	• Name, address, telephone number, E-mail address • Of the person who can be contacted in case of consumer complaints.	Santoor Hand Wash
Using Stickers	• Not permissible for altering or making declaration. • Except in the case of reducing MRP, but same should not cover the MRP declaration made by the manufacturer/ packer.	(Bar code of individual packs are stickered) Lifebuoy Hand wash pouch- Offer Buy 2 @ Rs. 69/-
Brown/Red or green dot	• For the package of soap, shampoos, tooth pastes and other cosmetics and toiletries. • Non-Vegetarian origin- Brown dot • Vegetarian origin- Green dot.	Roop Mantra- Neem&Tulsi Soap
‘Not a standard pack size under Legal Metrology(Packa ged commodities) Rules, 2011’	• Specific Cosmetics should be packed in the standard quantities as mentioned in the Second Schedule of the said rule. • If packed in size other than that prescribed in the schedule, then it should be prominently labeled in the said manner. • Value Based packages can be sold without complying with the Second Schedule.	TriguniEze Eats- Rasa Vada

DOS AND DON’TS WHILE MAKING THE DECLARATIONS

DO'S:

• Declarations should appear on Principal Display Panel
• Should be legible and prominent
• Retail sale price and net quantity –painted, printed or inscribed in contrasting color.
• Declarations to be either in Hindi or English (in addition to this, other languages also allowed)
• If declarations are in the form of handwriting or hand-script, such declarations should be clear, unambiguous and legible.
• If only one label is present, such label should contain all the information required to be shown on both inner and outer labels.
• If there is an outside container or wrapper, it should also contain all the declarations.
• A label for making the declarations can be affixed on imported packages.
• If a commodity consists of number of components for the sale of a single commodity, all the declarations are required to be made on the main package or such declarations may be given on individual packages and intimation to that effect may be given on main package.

DON’TS:

• No person/ manufacturer is allowed to alter, obliterate or deface any inscription or make any mark on the container, label or wrapper of any cosmetic unless allowed by the Licensing Authority.
• The labeling or packaging of cosmetic should not convey any false or misleading claims.
• An export package cannot be sold in India unless the manufacturer or packer has re- packed or re-labeled the commodity.
• The Legal Metrology (Package Commodity) Rules 2011 do not apply to any package containing a commodity of net content less than or equal to 10 milliliter or 10 gram.
• If a commodity consists of number of components for the sale of a single commodity, then the components cannot be sold as spare parts unless all the declarations are given on individual package.