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Selling cosmetics and beauty products in Singapore

In Singapore, cosmetics follow the Health Products Act and the Health Products (Cosmetic Products – ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007, administered by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Manufacturers and importers notify each product before supply, renew the notification yearly, follow the ASEAN Annexes and labelling rules, and report serious adverse effects.

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

Regulator
Health Sciences Authority (HSA)
Main texts
Health Products Act; Cosmetic Products – ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Regulations 2007
Before sale
Product notification through PRISM, valid one year
Ingredients
Annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive
Label language
English, with other languages optional
Manufacturing
No manufacturer's licence; GMP certificate optional for export

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is it a cosmetic product, or a medicine, health supplement or other product? Read more
  2. 2Are its ingredients allowed under the ASEAN Annexes, within their conditions? Read more
  3. 3Does the label carry the ASEAN particulars in English? Read more
  4. 4Has a notification been submitted for each variant, and is it renewed each year? Read more
  5. 5Are the claims in adverts consistent with a cosmetic and substantiated? Read more
  6. 6Is there a way to report adverse effects, defects and recalls to HSA? Read more

The rules, by area

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

What counts as a cosmetic

The definition HSA applies, and products that fall outside it.

  • A cosmetic product is a substance or preparation placed in contact with external parts of the body, such as skin, hair, nails, lips, teeth and gums, to clean, perfume, change the appearance, correct body odours, protect or keep them in good condition.
  • Injections, eye-drops, products taken orally and products intended for treatment, such as acne treatment creams, are not cosmetics.
  • HSA's examples of non-cosmetics include beauty supplements and collagen drinks, medicated oils, insect repellents, hand sanitisers with antiseptic properties, household detergents and products for animals.
  • Where it is unclear, a business can submit a classification enquiry to HSA.

How we help: Compliant Always records how each product is classified and the reasoning, so the right rules are applied from the start. Ask about this

Ingredients and safety

What may go into a cosmetic, and who answers for its safety.

  • Ingredients must comply with the Annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive: Annex II lists prohibited substances, Annex III restricted substances, and Annexes IV, VI and VII the permitted colouring agents, preservatives and UV filters.
  • The ASEAN Cosmetic Committee and Scientific Body meet twice a year and amend the Annexes; HSA advises checking the latest Annexes regularly.
  • Dealers have the legal responsibility for the safety of their cosmetic products and compliance with labelling and ingredient restrictions.
  • Sellers must not supply products with adulterants or prohibited substances, or over the limits for specified substances.
  • ASEAN guidelines cover safety assessment, the product information file, good manufacturing practice and limits of contaminants.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your formula against the ASEAN Annexes and watches their amendments, so a newly restricted ingredient shows up against the products that use it. Ask about this

Product notification and post-market duties

The notification each product needs, and what follows once it is on sale.

  • Manufacturers and importers notify each cosmetic product through HSA's PRISM e-service before supplying it, using a Singapore entity registered with ACRA.
  • A notification is needed even if another company has notified the same product, and for each variant, such as each shade or scent; different pack sizes do not need separate notifications.
  • Selling may start on receipt of the auto-generated acknowledgement, which is not an endorsement; HSA does not evaluate or authorise the product.
  • Each notification is valid for one year, and re-notification is needed each year to keep selling.
  • Companies keep records of supply for two years, give safety and technical information when HSA asks, and report serious adverse effects, product defects and recalls.
  • Samples for promotion, products for research testing and products made for a doctor's own patients need no notification but must still meet the other requirements.

How we help: Compliant Always records each variant's notification with its renewal date in view, and keeps the safety and technical file HSA may ask for. Ask about this

Labelling and advertising

What the label shows, and what may be claimed.

  • The outer packaging, or the immediate packaging if there is none, shows in English: the product name and function, instructions for use, and the full ingredient list in descending order of weight.
  • It also shows the country of manufacture, the company responsible in Singapore, the contents by weight or volume, the batch number, the manufacturing or expiry date, and special precautions from the ASEAN Annexes.
  • An expiry date is mandatory where minimum durability is less than 30 months; ingredients of animal origin are signalled, and bovine or porcine sources named.
  • Small packs at least show the product name and batch number, with other particulars on leaflets, tags or similar.
  • Adverts must not claim to modify a physiological process or to prevent or treat disease, and must follow the ASEAN Cosmetic Claim Guideline and the Singapore Code of Advertising Practices.

How we help: Compliant Always sets the ASEAN label particulars and claim guideline beside your artwork and adverts, with the source for each line. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterNotifying each product before supply, renewing yearly, and being named on the label.Notifications and renewal dates kept with each variant.
Local manufacturerNotification, safety and quality; a GMP certificate is optional and supports export.Formula, test reports and GMP documents kept by product.
Brand ownerThe formula, the label and the claims made in adverts.Formula and label read against the ASEAN Annexes and claim guideline.
SellerSafety and quality, records of supply for two years, and reporting adverse effects.The product file and supply records in one place.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need to register cosmetics in Singapore?
Cosmetics are notified rather than registered. Manufacturers and importers submit a product notification to HSA through PRISM before supplying the product, and can sell on receipt of the acknowledgement.
How long is a cosmetic notification valid in Singapore?
One year. To keep selling the product, the company submits a re-notification each year.
Does each shade or scent need its own notification?
Yes. A notification is needed for every variant of the same product, such as different lipstick shades or shampoo scents. Different pack sizes of the same product do not need separate notifications.
Does HSA approve cosmetic products?
No. HSA does not evaluate cosmetic products, and the notification acknowledgement is not an endorsement of safety or quality. The company remains responsible for both.
Which ingredients are banned in cosmetics in Singapore?
Those in Annex II of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. Annex III lists restricted substances, and Annexes IV, VI and VII list the permitted colouring agents, preservatives and UV filters.
What language must a cosmetic label be in?
English. Other languages may be added, and should say the same as the English version.
Do cosmetic manufacturers need a licence in Singapore?
No. Cosmetic manufacturers in Singapore do not need a manufacturer's licence, but may apply to HSA for a Good Manufacturing Practice certificate to support export.
Must adverse effects be reported?
Yes. Serious adverse effects, product defects and product recalls relating to cosmetic products are reported to HSA.
Can a cosmetic claim to stop hair loss?
No. Cosmetic adverts cannot claim to modify a physiological process, such as reversing hair loss, or to prevent or treat a disease.
Is a hand sanitiser a cosmetic in Singapore?
Not if it has antiseptic or antimicrobial properties. HSA lists such hand sanitisers, insect repellents, medicated oils and oral beauty supplements among products that are not cosmetics.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Singapore?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, 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 Singapore and what your paperwork needs to show.

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