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Exporting cosmetics and beauty products from Taiwan

Under Article 29 of Taiwan's Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act, a cosmetics business can apply to TFDA for a manufacturing and sale certificate for notified or licensed products, or a GMP certificate for a compliant factory. Regulations in force since 1 July 2019 set five types. The exporter registers with TITA and declares the goods to Customs.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Law
Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act
Certificates
Five types, from TFDA, under Article 29
Free sale
Type A and Type B manufacturing and sale certificates
GMP certificate
After an on-site inspection
Basis
Product notification or licence in Taiwan
Exporter
Registered with TITA

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Has the product been notified, or licensed, in Taiwan? Read more
  2. 2Does the buyer want proof the product may be sold, or has been sold, in Taiwan? Read more
  3. 3Does the buyer want a GMP certificate for the factory? Read more
  4. 4Is the exporter registered with TITA, and is the declaration ready? Read more
  5. 5Does the buyer need a certificate of origin? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

TFDA cosmetics certificates

The certificates TFDA issues for cosmetics, and what each one proves.

  • A cosmetics business may apply to TFDA for a manufacturing and sale certificate for cosmetics it has notified or licensed, or a GMP certificate for a compliant manufacturing facility (Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act, Article 29).
  • Type A Manufacturing and Sale Certificate: domestic cosmetics may be produced and sold in Taiwan (Regulations for Issuance and Management of the Cosmetics Certificates, Article 2).
  • Type B Manufacturing and Sale Certificate: domestic cosmetics have been produced and sold in Taiwan; the application includes proof of sale (Articles 2 and 4).
  • Cosmetics Manufacturing Certificate: domestic cosmetics were produced at a domestic facility; an Imported Cosmetics Sale Certificate covers imported cosmetics sold in Taiwan (Article 2).
  • Applications attach the product notification certificate or licence, the company or business registration, the factory registration unless exempt, and the OEM agreement for a contract manufacturer (Articles 3 to 5).
  • A certificate may be rescinded if the notification, licence or company or factory registration is revoked (Article 10).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each certificate with the product it names, beside the notification and registrations it rests on, and shows a certificate whose basis has lapsed. Ask about this

Factories and GMP

Factory registration, GMP for specified cosmetics, and the GMP certificate for export.

  • Cosmetics manufacturing facilities meet the Establishment Standards for Cosmetics Manufactory and complete factory registration (Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act, Article 8).
  • Facilities making cosmetics categories announced by TFDA follow the cosmetic GMP Regulations and are subject to on-site inspection (Article 8).
  • TFDA has stated that factories making specific-purpose cosmetics must fully comply with cosmetic GMP from 1 July 2024.
  • For a Cosmetic GMP Certificate, the business applies with its company and factory registrations; TFDA inspects on site and issues the certificate on finding compliance (Regulations for Issuance and Management of the Cosmetics Certificates, Article 7).
  • The GMP certificate's validity follows the validity of the document of conformity (Article 7).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the factory registration, GMP document of conformity and certificate together, dated, and shows when the GMP basis is due to run out. Ask about this

Exporter registration and the export declaration

Who may export, when an export permit is needed, and what goes to Customs.

  • A company or business registered with the International Trade Administration (TITA, formerly the Bureau of Foreign Trade) as an exporter/importer may engage in export business; its English name is reviewed first (Foreign Trade Act, Article 9).
  • Registration is applied for electronically; TITA publishes the registration data online and transmits it automatically to Customs.
  • A registered firm exporting goods not on the List of Commodities Subject to Export Restriction needs no export permit; listed goods follow the regulations on that list (Regulations Governing Export of Commodities, Articles 5 and 6).
  • An export permit is valid for 30 days from licensing and cannot be extended (Article 19).
  • The exporter declares the trademark on the export declaration, or "without trademark" (Article 10).
  • Exporters declare goods to Customs before the clearance or departure of the means of transport, with the export declaration, loading list, booking note, packing list and any export permits (Customs Act, Articles 16 and 17).
  • Declarations, trade licensing, inspection and quarantine services run through the Customs-Port-Trade (CPT) Single Window, operated by the Customs Administration.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the exporter registration, any export permit and the export declaration with the shipment, dated, and shows a permit that will lapse before the goods leave. Ask about this

Origin marking and certificates of origin

How goods for export are marked with their origin, and how a certificate of origin is issued.

  • Goods for export are marked with the country of origin on the goods or their packaging, conspicuously and durably; goods made in Taiwan are marked "Made in Taiwan", "Made in Taiwan, Republic of China" or an equivalent (Regulations Governing Export of Commodities, Articles 14 and 15).
  • TITA, or a body it entrusts, issues certificates of origin and certificates of processing for exports (Foreign Trade Act, Article 20-2).
  • Goods originate in Taiwan if wholly obtained there, or if the last substantial transformation happened there: a change in the first six digits of the tariff number, or added value above 35% (Certificates of Origin Regulations, Articles 3 and 5).
  • Packing, re-labelling, simple assembly or mixing, and simple cutting do not count as substantial transformation (Article 5).
  • The applicant is the exporter on the export declaration, normally within 180 days after Customs releases the goods; the fee is NT$250 per certificate (Articles 11, 23 and 29).
  • The applicant keeps the documents proving origin for five years (Article 28).
  • Customs publishes the rules of origin for Taiwan's agreements, including ECFA, ANZTEC with New Zealand, ASTEP with Singapore, and the agreements with Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras, Paraguay and Eswatini.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the origin evidence behind each certificate with the lot, dated, and shows a certificate request coming up against its 180-day window. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Brand or manufacturerProduct notification in Taiwan, factory registration and GMP, and the certificate application.Notifications, registrations and GMP documents kept with each product.
ExporterRegistration with TITA, the export declaration, any export permit, and the certificate of origin application.Registration, permits and certificates kept with each shipment, dated.
Customs broker or freight forwarderLodging the export declaration and its documents through the CPT Single Window on the exporter's behalf.The documents the declaration needs, in one place before the goods leave.
Certifying authorityTFDA, which issues the five cosmetics certificates and inspects for GMP.TFDA certificates kept beside the shipment they cover.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what cosmetics and beauty products have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

How do I get a certificate of free sale for cosmetics from Taiwan?
Apply to TFDA for a Type A Manufacturing and Sale Certificate, showing domestic cosmetics may be produced and sold in Taiwan, or Type B, showing they have been. Both require product notification or a licence in Taiwan.
What is the difference between Type A and Type B cosmetics certificates?
Type A proves domestic cosmetics may be produced and sold in Taiwan. Type B proves they have been produced and sold there, and the application includes proof of sale.
What documents does a TFDA cosmetics certificate application need?
The product notification certificate or licence copy, the company or business registration, the factory registration unless exempt, and, for a contract manufacturer, the OEM agreement, plus anything TFDA requires.
Can I get a GMP certificate for a Taiwanese cosmetics factory?
Yes. A business applies to TFDA with its company and factory registrations; TFDA inspects the factory on site and issues a Cosmetic GMP Certificate on finding it complies with the cosmetic GMP Regulations.
Must cosmetics made for export be notified in Taiwan?
TFDA's manufacturing and sale certificates and manufacturing certificate are issued only for cosmetics that have been notified or licensed, so a product needing one of these certificates must be notified first.
Do cosmetics factories in Taiwan have to follow GMP?
Factories making the categories TFDA announces must. TFDA has stated that factories making specific-purpose cosmetics must fully comply with cosmetic GMP from 1 July 2024.
Can a TFDA cosmetics certificate be withdrawn?
Yes. It may be rescinded if the product's notification or licence, or the company, business or factory registration, is revoked, and a GMP certificate if a non-conformance is not corrected in time.
Do I need an export permit for cosmetics?
Not as a registered exporter, unless the goods are on TITA's List of Commodities Subject to Export Restriction. Listed goods follow the rules on that list.
How must cosmetics exported from Taiwan be marked with origin?
With the country of origin on the goods or their packaging, conspicuously and durably; goods made in Taiwan are marked "Made in Taiwan" or an equivalent (Regulations Governing Export of Commodities, Articles 14 and 15).
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from Taiwan?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Taiwan and what your paperwork needs to show.

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