CDSCO Import Registration for Face Powder & Compact in India: Standards, Documents and the Complete Process

Pressed compacts, loose setting powders and blotting powders are talc-based 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. This guide covers CDSCO registration for imported face powder and compacts: the applicable standards, documents, fees and timeline.

The one issue that dominates a powder filing is the safety of the talc — an asbestos-free declaration is expected — with the permitted-colour list and the heavy-metal limits close behind.

Is CDSCO Registration Mandatory for Face Powder & Compact?

Yes. Face powder, compact and loose powder are Fourth Schedule colour / skin-care preparations and require CDSCO registration before import. The certificate covers the declared shades and formats.

Applicable Standard for Face Powder & Compact

No product-specific Ninth Schedule Indian Standard applies to a face powder, so it is assessed against the country-of-origin standard plus the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, with the CoA drawn against the manufacturer’s finished-product specification (appearance, fineness, pH of an aqueous slurry where relevant, and microbiological limits). The colourants are declared by CI number against IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.

Because most powders are talc-based, the defining safety document is an asbestos-free declaration and test report on the talc — cosmetic talc must be free of asbestiform minerals. Heavy metals on the pigments follow the general limits, and a loose powder carries an inhalation caution.

Only the Indian colour list counts. So if a pigment is allowed in the EU or US but missing from IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule, CDSCO will refuse it. Map every Colour Index (CI) number to the Indian permitted list before you file.

Talc, Asbestos and the Safety Document

Face powder is not a drug-classification risk, but it carries the most safety-sensitive raw material in colour cosmetics: talc. Cosmetic talc must be free of asbestos, and CDSCO expects a declaration and test report to that effect — a powder filed without it is a routine query. The colour list and heavy-metal limits apply as for any colour cosmetic.

Documents Required for Face Powder & Compact CDSCO Registration

• Asbestos-free declaration and test report on the talc used — the headline safety document for this category.
• Certificate of Analysis against the country-of-origin finished-product specification — appearance, fineness and microbiological limits.
• Colourant declaration by CI number, mapped to IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.
• 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.

Label Requirements Specific to Face Powder & Compact

• Shade name and number on the unit pack.
• Keep-away-from-children / avoid-inhalation caution for loose powders.
• Registration Certificate number preceded by “RC” or “Reg. Cert. No.”.
• Net content by weight.

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 face powder & compact, 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 / skin care preparations 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 / skin care preparations 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

• Asbestos-free talc declaration or test report missing.
• A CI pigment not listed in IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.
• No inhalation caution on a loose powder.
• 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) — face powder & compact 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 face powder and compacts?

Yes. They are Fourth Schedule colour / skin-care preparations 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 face powder?

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

What is the most important document for a talc powder?

An asbestos-free declaration and test report on the talc. Cosmetic talc must be free of asbestiform minerals, and CDSCO scrutinises this closely.

How are powder 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 face powder & compact 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 face powder & compact — 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 Concealer & Colour Corrector in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Hair Serum, Essence & Tonic in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Blush, Bronzer & Highlighter in India

Need expert help? See our CDSCO registration services.