CDSCO Import Registration for Concealer & Colour Corrector in India: Standards, Documents and the Complete Process

Concealers, colour correctors and under-eye brighteners are precision colour cosmetics, and each must be registered with CDSCO under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 before import. Registration is product-level and tied to the specific formulation, its shades and the factory.

Because many concealers are used around the eye, they can also inherit the tighter eye-area colour rules — so the pigment list is the heart of the filing.

Is CDSCO Registration Mandatory for Concealer & Colour Corrector?

Yes. Concealer and colour corrector are Fourth Schedule colour cosmetics and require CDSCO registration before import. The certificate covers the declared shades and formats (stick, liquid, cream).

Applicable Standard for Concealer & Colour Corrector

No product-specific Indian Standard applies, so the base is assessed against the country-of-origin standard plus the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, with the CoA drawn against the manufacturer’s finished-product specification. The colour is the controlled element: every pigment is declared by CI number and mapped to IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.

Where a concealer or corrector is marketed for the eye area, its colourants must be from the narrower eye-area permitted list, and heavy metals on the pigments are checked against the general limits (As ≤ 2 ppm, Pb ≤ 20 ppm, others ≤ 100 ppm total).

The Indian colour list is the only list that counts: a pigment permitted in the EU or US but not listed in IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule will be refused. Map every Colour Index (CI) number to the Indian permitted list before you file.

The Permitted-Colour List Is the Gate

Concealer does not raise a drug question, but it has the same hard gate as any colour cosmetic: the pigment must be on IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule. An eye-area corrector additionally has to draw from the narrower eye-area colour list. A pigment cleared abroad but absent from the Indian list is the number-one rejection.

Documents Required for Concealer & Colour Corrector CDSCO Registration

• Certificate of Analysis against the country-of-origin finished-product specification — pH, appearance, non-volatile matter, preservative content and microbiological limits.
• Colourant declaration by CI number, mapped to IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule (eye-area list where used near the eye).
• Heavy-metals report on the colourants (As ≤ 2 ppm, Pb ≤ 20 ppm, other heavy metals ≤ 100 ppm total).
• Shade-wise composition sheet — each shade is a separate variant at USD 50.
• Declaration that no lead or arsenic compounds have been used for colouring.

Label Requirements Specific to Concealer & Colour Corrector

• Shade name and number on the unit pack.
• Registration Certificate number preceded by “RC” or “Reg. Cert. No.”.
• Directions for use and any eye-area caution.

Step-by-Step: CDSCO Import Registration Process

The CDSCO cosmetic import registration route is the same for every product category, and we explain each step in our complete CDSCO cosmetic registration guide. For concealer & colour corrector, these are the points that need the most attention:

• Classify the product. First, confirm it meets the definition of a cosmetic under Section 3(aaa). Then map it to the colour cosmetics category under the Fourth Schedule, because this drives the fee and the certificate scope.

Fees and Timeline

You pay government fees online via Bharatkosh under head 0210041040000-00-1. The fee is USD 1,000 for the colour cosmetics category, USD 500 per manufacturing site and USD 50 per variant (shade, fragrance or formulation). In addition, a duplicate certificate costs USD 200 and permission for a novel ingredient costs USD 500. Finally, if CDSCO orders an inspection of an overseas site, the fee is USD 5,000.

Common Mistakes That Trigger a CDSCO Query

• A CI pigment not listed in IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.
• Eye-area concealers using colours from the general (not eye-area) list.
• Shade lists that do not reconcile across the three documents.
• Shades under-declared for the USD 50 variant fee.

Related Approvals to Plan Alongside CDSCO

• DGFT Importer-Exporter Code — every importer of record needs one before the first consignment.
• LMPC registration (Legal Metrology) — concealer & colour corrector is a pre-packaged commodity requiring MRP, net quantity, importer details, country of origin and consumer-care details on the pack.
• Wholesale licence (Form 20B / 21B) — where the Indian agent also distributes drugs alongside cosmetics.
• Drug import licence (Form 10) — needed if a therapeutic claim or a pharmacologically active ingredient makes the product a drug instead of a cosmetic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CDSCO registration mandatory for imported concealer?

Yes. Concealer and colour corrector are Fourth Schedule colour cosmetics and cannot be imported until registered under Rule 12(1) of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, with the certificate issued in Form COS-2.

Is there an Indian Standard for concealer?

No product-specific Ninth Schedule standard applies; the base is assessed against the country-of-origin specification plus the Cosmetics Rules, with pigments on IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.

Do under-eye concealers face extra colour rules?

Yes — a concealer marketed for the eye area must use colours from the narrower eye-area permitted list under IS 4707 (Part 1).

How are concealer shades charged?

Each shade is a separate variant at USD 50. It must also appear in the authorisation, the Free Sale Certificate and Form COS-1.

Why Choose PCN India Global

• Claims triage — we confirm upfront whether your concealer & colour corrector is cleanly cosmetic or at risk of drug reclassification.
• Category mapping — the correct Fourth Schedule category and test scope confirmed for your formulation.
• Dossier assembly — the full core document set prepared and cross-checked against the CDSCO checklist.
• Label compliance — a Chapter VI review to correct any non-compliant or therapeutic wording before you print packaging.
• End-to-end SUGAM filing — application, query response and the Form COS-2 grant managed for you.
• Adjacent approvals — LMPC, DGFT/IEC and, where relevant, PESO/AYUSH coordinated alongside your CDSCO registration.

PCN India Global manages the complete CDSCO import registration process for concealer & colour corrector — from claims triage and category mapping to dossier assembly, SUGAM filing and the Form COS-2 grant. WhatsApp or call +91 80109 05029, or email bdm@pcnindiaglobal.com, to get your import registration underway.

Related Compliance Guides

• Legal Metrology (LMPC) Registration
• DGFT License Services (Importer-Exporter Code)
• CDSCO Registration for Foundation, BB & CC Cream

Related Guides

• CDSCO Import Registration for Hair Serum, Essence & Tonic in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Face Powder & Compact in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Feminine Intimate Wash in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick in India

Need expert help? See our CDSCO registration services.