Cosmetic Label Requirements in India

In India, cosmetic labels are governed by Chapter VI of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Rule 34 lists the mandatory particulars; Rules 35-38 add a ban on altering labels, a ban on misleading claims, and special text for hair dyes and fluoride toothpaste. CDSCO's Cosmetics Division still cites Rules 34 and 37 as the labelling requirements in a June 2026 circular ^[1].

Approach: I searched CDSCO's circulars and public notices, then read Chapter VI in the official CDSCO text of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (pages 21-26). The Rules themselves are not in the datasets, so the rule text below comes from that official PDF.

Rule 34: Manner of labelling

Particular	Where it goes	Small-pack relief
(1)(a) Name of the cosmetic	Inner and outer label	–
(1)(b) Name of the manufacturer and full address of the site where it was made. If it was not made in the manufacturer's own factory: the actual manufacturer's name and address, or "Made in … (country)"	Inner and outer	Containers of 30 g or less (solid or semi-solid) or 60 ml or less (liquid): manufacturer's name and principal place of manufacture with PIN code
(1)(c) Expiry, month and year ("use before", "use by", "expiry XX months from manufacture", etc.)	Inner and outer	–
(2)(a) Batch number, preceded by "B", "Batch No.", "B. No.", "Batch", "Lot No." or "Lot"	Inner or outer	Not required at 10 g or less (solid or semi-solid) or 25 ml or less (liquid). Soaps give month and year of manufacture instead
(2)(b) Manufacturing licence number, preceded by "M", "M. L. No" or "Mfg. Lic. No."	Inner or outer	Imported products may leave it out if the country of origin does not require it
(3) Net contents: weight for solids, fluid measure for liquids, either for semi-solids, plus a count if the contents are sub-divided	Outer label	Not required for perfume or toilet water of 60 ml or less, or solids or semi-solids of 30 g or less
(4) Where a hazard exists: directions for safe use; any warning, caution or special direction; names and quantities of hazardous or poisonous ingredients	Every inner label	–
(5) Imported cosmetics: import registration certificate number, preceded by "RC", "RC No" or "Reg. Cert. No", plus the importer's name and address	Unit pack	–
(7) Ingredient list headed "INGREDIENTS": ingredients above 1% in descending order of weight or volume, then those at 1% or less in any order	All cases	Not required for packs of 60 ml or less (liquid) or 30 g or less (solid or semi-solid)
(8) Any labelling requirement in the relevant BIS Indian Standard for products covered by the Ninth Schedule	–	–

Other points in Rule 34:

• One label only: if a pack has a single label, it must carry everything required on both the inner and outer labels (34(6)).

• Imports: a cosmetic must not be imported unless it is packed and labelled in line with the Rules. The label must show the product's registration certificate number and the certificate holder's name and address. India-specific labelling may be applied as stickers on the unit pack at bonded warehouses (34(9)).

• Exports: labels may follow the destination country's law. The innermost pack and every outer covering must still clearly show:

  • the product name;
  • the batch, lot or serial number;
  • the expiry date, if any;
  • the manufacturer's name and address and the actual manufacturing site;
  • the licence number;
  • internationally recognised symbols in place of text where required.

  If the consignee does not want the manufacturer's name and address on the label, a code number approved by the State Licensing Authority is used instead (34(10)).

Rules 35-38

• Rule 35: "No person shall alter, obliterate or deface" any inscription or mark the manufacturer put on the container, label or wrapper, unless the Central Licensing Authority directs or permits it.
• Rule 36: no cosmetic "may purport or claim to purport or convey any idea which is false or misleading." CDSCO repeated both of these points in a public notice of May 2026 ^[2].
• Rule 37, hair dyes: this applies to hair dyes containing paraphenylenediamine or other dyes, colours and pigments.
  • The fixed "Caution" legend (risk of skin irritation, do a preliminary test, never dye eyelashes or eyebrows because of blindness risk) must appear in English and local languages on both inner and outer labels.
  • Each package must also include patch-test instructions in English and local languages.
  • CDSCO's 2026 circular adds that hair colours must also meet the BIS standards IS 4707 (Parts 1 and 2) and IS 8481. Any change to the label must be reported to the licensing authority under Rules 15(2) and 26(k) ^[1].
• Rule 38, fluoride toothpaste: fluoride must not exceed 1000 ppm. The fluoride content in ppm and the expiry date must be shown on both the tube and the carton.
• Rule 39(4), hexachlorophene soaps (up to 1% w/w): the wrapper must clearly carry "Contains hexachlorophene - not to be used on babies".

I did not check rules outside the Cosmetics Rules that can also apply to retail packs, such as India's legal metrology rules for packaged goods. I can look those up next if you want.