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September 12, 2026October 12, 2026
CDSCO, Compliance Guides, Cosmetics Compliance, Import Compliance

CDSCO Import Registration for Mehndi & Body Henna in India: Standards, Documents and the Complete Process

Mehndi cones, henna powders and ready-mixed body-henna pastes are imported for body art and bridal use, 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 variants and the factory.

Henna has a dedicated Indian Standard, but the issue that dominates this category is adulteration: “black henna” that contains added para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a serious safety hazard and is not permitted as a cosmetic body product.

Is CDSCO Registration Mandatory for Mehndi & Body Henna?

Yes. Mehndi and body henna are Fourth Schedule cosmetics and need CDSCO registration before import. The PPD-adulteration issue and the natural-product safety documents are the pivots of the filing.

The application is filed by the overseas manufacturer or, in practice, its Authorised Indian Agent.

Applicable Standard for Mehndi & Body Henna

Henna powder is covered by IS 11142, and the Certificate of Analysis is drawn against it, covering identity, purity and the absence of prohibited additives. Because henna is a natural plant product, a heavy-metals report and a microbiological report support the file, and a ready-mixed paste declares any added oils or solvents.

The overriding control is para-phenylenediamine (PPD): natural henna stains reddish-brown, and a fast, jet-“black henna” almost always signals added PPD, which causes severe skin reactions and is not permitted in a leave-on body product. CDSCO expects a declaration and, in practice, a test confirming the product is free of added PPD and other hair-dye intermediates.

“Black Henna”, PPD and the Safety Red Line

Natural mehndi and body henna are cosmetics. The category’s defining hazard is not drug classification but adulteration: “black henna” containing added para-phenylenediamine (PPD) causes severe skin sensitisation and chemical burns and is not a permitted cosmetic body product. Natural henna stains reddish-brown and develops slowly; a jet-black, fast stain is the warning sign of PPD.

Documents Required for Mehndi & Body Henna CDSCO Registration

Every Form COS-1 application needs the core document set — covering letter; First Schedule authorisation; Second Schedule Part-I; ingredient list with percentages; inner and outer labels; specification and method of testing; finished-product Certificate of Analysis; country-of-origin manufacturing licence or marketing authorisation; original Free Sale Certificate; non-animal-testing declaration; heavy-metal and hexachlorophene declaration; GMP / ISO 22716 certificate; correlation chart; Bharatkosh receipt; and the signed Form COS-1. On top of this base, Mehndi & Body Henna needs:

Certificate of Analysis against IS 11142 (henna powder) — identity, purity and absence of prohibited additives.
PPD-free declaration and test report — added para-phenylenediamine (“black henna”) is a prohibited, hazardous adulterant.
Heavy-metals report, given the natural plant base.
Declaration of any added oils, solvents or fragrance in a ready-mixed cone or paste, with allergen thresholds.
Microbiological report.
Skin-sensitisation / patch-test recommendation.

Label Requirements Specific to Mehndi & Body Henna

A patch-test recommendation before use.
Directions for use and expected stain colour (reddish-brown for natural henna).
Net content by weight.
No claim or implication of a fast “black” stain that would signal PPD adulteration.

Step-by-Step: CDSCO Import Registration Process

Classify the product. Confirm it meets the definition of a cosmetic under Section 3(aaa) and map it to the cosmetics (body art) category under the Fourth Schedule — this drives the fee and the certificate scope.
Appoint the Authorised Indian Agent. Execute the First Schedule authorisation, signed jointly by manufacturer and agent, then notarised and apostilled (Hague states) or embassy-attested.
Assemble the technical dossier. Ingredient list with INCI names and percentages, the finished-product CoA against the applicable standard, inner and outer labels, GMP / ISO 22716 evidence and the Free Sale Certificate.
Align the label to Chapter VI. Indian labelling is a top rejection reason; India-specific content may be stickered onto the unit pack at a bonded warehouse before clearance.
Pay the fee on Bharatkosh. Compute category + site + variant fees, pay online under head 0210041040000-00-1 and retain the acknowledgement receipt.
File Form COS-1 on SUGAM. Upload the full checklist, including the correlation chart that ties each product serial number in COS-1 to the Free Sale Certificate and the authorisation.
Respond to CDSCO queries. Reply within the stipulated period — each query effectively restarts the clock, so a clean first filing is the biggest lever on timeline.
Receive Form COS-2. Print the Registration Certificate number on every unit pack, with the holder’s name and address, before the goods are cleared for sale.

Fees and Timeline

Government fees are paid online via Bharatkosh under head 0210041040000-00-1: USD 1,000 for the cosmetics (body art) category, USD 500 per manufacturing site and USD 50 per variant (shade, fragrance or formulation). A duplicate certificate is USD 200, permission for a novel ingredient is USD 500, and inspection of an overseas manufacturing site, if ordered, is USD 5,000.

Typical approval time is four to six months from acceptance of a complete application, and each CDSCO query effectively restarts the clock. The Registration Certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue and must be re-registered before it lapses.

Common Mistakes That Trigger a CDSCO Query

Added PPD detected (or not tested for) in a “black henna” product.
A CoA not drawn against IS 11142 for the henna powder.
Heavy-metals report missing for the natural plant material.
Undeclared added oils, solvents or fragrance in a ready-mixed cone.

Related Approvals to Plan Alongside CDSCO

DGFT Importer-Exporter Code — mandatory for any importer of record before the first consignment.
LMPC registration (Legal Metrology) — mehndi & body henna 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) — where a therapeutic claim or a pharmacologically active ingredient makes the product a drug rather than a cosmetic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CDSCO registration mandatory for imported mehndi and body henna?

Yes. Mehndi and body henna are Fourth Schedule 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 to henna?

IS 11142 for henna powder. The CoA is drawn against it, covering identity, purity and the absence of prohibited additives.

Why is “black henna” a problem?

Because it almost always contains added para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which causes severe skin reactions and is not permitted in a leave-on body product. Natural henna stains reddish-brown; a fast black stain signals PPD.

What safety documents does CDSCO expect?

A PPD-free declaration and test report, a heavy-metals report on the natural material, a microbiological report, and a patch-test recommendation on the label.

How long does registration take and how long is it valid?

Around four to six months for a complete application; the certificate is valid for five years and must be re-registered before expiry.

Do we need an Authorised Indian Agent?

In practice yes — the agent files on the First Schedule format and carries statutory liability for the product in India.

Why Choose PCN India Global

Claims triage — we confirm upfront whether your mehndi & body henna 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 mehndi & body henna — 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 admin@pcnindiaglobal.com, to get your import registration underway.

Related Compliance Guides

Legal Metrology (LMPC) Registration
DGFT License Services (Importer-Exporter Code)
CDSCO Registration for Hair Dye & Colour

Need expert help? See our CDSCO registration services.