CDSCO Import Registration for Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick in India: Standards, Documents and the Complete Process

Lip glosses, liquid lipsticks and lip lacquers are the high-shine, high-shade-count end of lip colour, 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 lip gloss and liquid lipstick: the applicable standards, documents, fees and timeline.

Like all lip colour, they are worn on the lips and partly ingested — so the pigment list and the heavy-metal limits are the heart of the filing.

Is CDSCO Registration Mandatory for Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick?

Yes. Lip gloss and liquid lipstick are Fourth Schedule lip-care / colour-cosmetic preparations and require CDSCO registration before import. The certificate covers the declared shades.

Applicable Standard for Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick

A liquid lipstick sits alongside IS 9875 (lipstick) in substance, while a clear or tinted gloss has no dedicated IS and is assessed against the country-of-origin standard plus the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Either way, every colour is declared by CI number and mapped to IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule, and heavy metals on the colourants are checked strictly because the product is ingested (As ≤ 2 ppm, Pb ≤ 20 ppm, others ≤ 100 ppm total).

Each shade is a chargeable variant, and the shade lists must reconcile across the authorisation, the Free Sale Certificate and Form COS-1.

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 CI number to the Indian list before you file.

Colour, Ingestion and the Shade Count

Lip gloss raises no drug question; the gate is the permitted-colour list, applied strictly because the product is ingested. A “plumping” gloss that merely tingles cosmetically is fine; one claiming to medically treat the lips is not. The recurring failures are a CI pigment not on IS 4707 (Part 1) and shade lists that do not reconcile across the three documents.

Documents Required for Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick CDSCO Registration

• 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).
• Certificate of Analysis — against IS 9875 for a liquid lipstick, or the country-of-origin specification for a gloss.
• 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 Lip Gloss & Liquid Lipstick

• Shade name and number on the unit pack.
• Registration Certificate number preceded by “RC” or “Reg. Cert. No.”.
• Directions for use.
• Net content by fluid measure.

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 lip gloss & liquid lipstick, 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 lip care / colour cosmetic 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 lip care / colour cosmetic 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

• A CI pigment not listed in IS 4707 (Part 1) and the Tenth Schedule.
• Heavy-metals report drawn on the finished product but not the colourants.
• 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) — lip gloss & liquid lipstick 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 lip gloss and liquid lipstick?

Yes. They are Fourth Schedule lip-care / 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.

Which Indian Standard applies?

A liquid lipstick aligns with IS 9875 (lipstick); a gloss has no dedicated IS and is assessed against the country-of-origin specification, with colours on IS 4707 (Part 1) either way.

Why are heavy metals scrutinised for lip products?

Because lip gloss and lipstick are ingested in small amounts over time, so the colourant heavy-metal limits (As ≤ 2 ppm, Pb ≤ 20 ppm, others ≤ 100 ppm) are read strictly.

How are 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 lip gloss & liquid lipstick 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 lip gloss & liquid lipstick — 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 Lipstick & Lip Colour

Related Guides

• CDSCO Import Registration for Face Powder & Compact in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Blush, Bronzer & Highlighter in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Concealer & Colour Corrector in India
• CDSCO Import Registration for Eyeshadow & Eye Palettes in India

Need expert help? See our CDSCO registration services.