Rule 34 of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 governs every mandatory label declaration for imported cosmetics in India — from RC number and INCI ingredients list to expiry date format and net contents. Full compliance reference with inner vs. outer label obligations.
Every imported cosmetic entering India must carry a label that satisfies Rule 34 of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Non-compliance at the port of entry results in detention, re-export, or destruction of the consignment — CDSCO port officers verify label conformity against the import registration documentation before clearing any shipment. This page sets out every mandatory declaration, the precise format each element must follow, and the distinctions between inner and outer label obligations.
Rule 34 is the single operative provision for cosmetics labelling in India. It governs what must appear on the label, where it must appear, and in what format. The Rule distinguishes between inner labels (on the immediate container) and outer labels (on secondary packaging visible to the consumer). Where a product has only one label, Rule 34(6) requires that label to carry all information mandated for both inner and outer labels.
For imported cosmetics, Rule 34 imposes additional declarations not required of domestically manufactured products. These import-specific requirements — the Registration Certificate number, importer details, and month and year of import — are non-negotiable and must appear on the unit pack.
The brand name and product name as registered with CDSCO. The name on the label must correspond exactly to the name on the COS-1 or COS-2 registration certificate.
The complete name and address of the manufacturing premises. Where the product is not manufactured at a premises owned by the brand owner, the label must state the country of manufacture in the format: Made in [country name]. For small containers (≤30g solid/semi-solid or ≤60ml liquid), the manufacturer's name and principal place of manufacture with pin code suffices.
The Rules permit the following formats interchangeably:
Use before [month/year]
Expiry [month/year]
Use by [month/year]
Expiry date [month/year]
Expiry XX months from manufactured date
The Cosmetics (Amendment) Rules, 2025 (notified 29 July 2025) clarified date interpretation: where Use before format is used, the date means the first day of that month; where Expiry format is used, the date means the last day of that month.
Mandatory on either the inner or outer label. The figures representing the batch number must be preceded by one of: B, Batch No., B. No., Batch, Lot No., or Lot. No specific alphanumeric format is prescribed — the requirement is the prefix designation. Soaps are excepted: they must display month and year of manufacture in place of a batch number.
Required unless the country of origin does not mandate manufacturing licence disclosure on labels, in which case CDSCO permits omission subject to fulfilment of all other import requirements.
Declared in:
Weight (grams or kilograms) for solid cosmetics
Fluid measure (millilitres or litres) for liquid cosmetics
Fluid measure or weight combined with numerical count for semi-solids or subdivided contents
Exemptions apply to perfumes packaged in containers of 60ml or less, and to solid or semi-solid cosmetics in containers of 30g or less.
Where a cosmetic contains hazardous ingredients or poses usage risks, the inner label must carry adequate directions for safe use and a list of hazardous ingredients. This requirement is content-dependent — not all products trigger it.
All imported cosmetics must display:
The Registration Certificate (RC) number issued under the COS-1 or COS-2 process
The full name and address of the Indian importer
Customer care contact details and email address
These must appear on the unit pack. This is the single most common label deficiency identified at ports of entry — the RC number must match the active registration exactly.
Month and year of import — displayed in mm/yy format on both inner and outer labels.
MRP declaration — in the format: MRP Rs. XXX incl. all taxes.
The full ingredient list, headed by the word INGREDIENTS, listing all ingredients present at concentrations above 1% in descending order of weight at time of manufacture, followed by all ingredients at 1% or below in any order. INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names must be used throughout. The ingredients list appears on the inner label. Where only one label exists, it appears there.
Cosmetics covered under the Ninth Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 must comply with labelling requirements specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). These products are governed by the applicable IS standard — for example, IS 4707 for general cosmetics — which may impose additional label elements beyond Rule 34.
Declaration | Inner Label | Outer Label
Name of cosmetic | ✓ | ✓
Manufacturer name and address | ✓ | ✓
Country of origin (Made in...) | ✓ | ✓
Expiry / use before date | ✓ | ✓
Batch / lot number | ✓ (or outer) | ✓ (or inner)
Manufacturing licence number | ✓ | ✓
Net contents | — | ✓
Hazard warnings and safe use | ✓ | —
RC number and importer details | ✓ | ✓
Month and year of import | ✓ | ✓
MRP | ✓ | ✓
Ingredients list | ✓ | —
Where the product has a single label only, Rule 34(6) requires all of the above to appear on that label.
The Cosmetics Rules, 2020 do not impose a broad bilingual requirement across all cosmetic categories. The primary language of compliance is English — CDSCO flags submitted labels as non-compliant where they are not legible or not in English. A specific bilingual obligation exists under Rule 37 for hair dyes containing dyes, colours, and pigments: cautionary legends and instructions for that category must appear in English and local languages.
The Rules do not prescribe numeric font sizes. The operative standard is legibility. CDSCO treats illegible labels as non-compliant. For cosmetics granted New Cosmetics permission under Form COS-3, the conditions of permission require the name of the cosmetic to be printed or written in indelible ink and to appear in a conspicuous manner. Cautionary notes must similarly be printed and appear in a conspicuous manner.
No specimen label format or consolidated checklist is provided within the Schedules or Annexes of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. CDSCO does, however, require submission of a specimen label and carton as part of the COS-12 (New Cosmetics permission) application checklist.
CDSCO port officers cross-verify incoming consignments against the import registration on file. Label verification is conducted against the Bill of Entry via ICEGATE. A consignment is detained and sampled — or rejected outright — where the label exhibits any of the following:
Absent or incorrect RC number
Missing importer name or address
Ingredients list absent or not in INCI nomenclature
Expiry date absent or showing less than six months remaining shelf life at time of import (Rule 18(2))
Claims that render the product a drug under Rule 36 of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020
Evidence of label alteration, obliteration, or defacement of manufacturer inscriptions (prohibited under Rule 35)
False or misleading claims (prohibited under Rule 36)
A misbranded cosmetic — one whose label is false, misleading, or non-conforming — triggers consequences under Section 17C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act read with Rule 53(2), including confiscation of the stock and the implements used in its manufacture or import.
Stage | Detail
Label compliance review (pre-submission) | Completed before SUGAM filing — no separate CDSCO fee
COS-1 registration (import licence) | ₹5,000 per product per application (non-SAARC)
Port clearance verification | No fee — conducted by CDSCO port officer at time of import
Remediation of a detained consignment | Cost determined by nature of deficiency; re-export or destruction if not resolvable
Label deficiencies discovered after filing generate a stop-clock notice and restart the processing timeline. Label review prior to SUGAM submission eliminates this risk.
Rule 34 compliance is the baseline for every cosmetic import into India — not a checklist to manage after filing, but a prerequisite to a clean submission and uninterrupted port clearance. Cosmetics Consultants India reviews every label against Rule 34, BIS standards under the Ninth Schedule, and current CDSCO port practice before any application is filed. Contact us to commission a label review.
Pre-submission label audit against Rule 34, IS 4707, and CDSCO non-compliance requirements. Every defect identified before your application reaches the portal.
Learn more →Rule 34(7) of the Cosmetics Rules 2020 mandates descending-order ingredient listing on Indian cosmetics labels. INCI nomenclature is required at the dossier level under Second Schedule Part-I, Clause 3(a). This page covers the full compliance standard: listing order, fragrance declaration thresholds, colour additive identification, pack-size exemptions, and CDSCO rejection triggers.
Learn more →Rule 36 of the Cosmetics Rules 2020 prohibits false or misleading cosmetic claims. Section 3(aaa) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 sets the boundary between cosmetic and drug claims. Products exceeding that boundary lose cosmetic registration.
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