In Singapore, cosmetic products are regulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) under the Health Products Act and its Health Products (Cosmetic Products — ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007. The Regulations are in line with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD), which adopts similar regulatory principles and requirements as the European Union (EU) regulations on cosmetic products. Cosmetic products in Singapore must be notified to the HSA by submitting a Cosmetic Product Notification before entering its market. And a local responsible agent who dealing with cosmetic products shall directly responsible for the safety and quality of the products.
Cosmetics Definition
A “cosmetic product” in Singapore is defined as any substance or preparation that is intended to be placed in contact with the various external parts of the human body or with the teeth or the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or mainly to:
- Cleaning
- Perfuming
- Changing appearance
- Correcting body odors
- Protecting
- Keeping in good condition
Product notification
Cosmetics that fall into the above definitions are required to do the cosmetic product notification. Manufacturers or Importers of the cosmetic products shall responsible for the notification before supplying them in Singapore.
Cosmetics product notification is required:
- Even if the product has already been notified by another company in Singapore, and you are importing from the same manufacturer.
- For every different variant of the same cosmetic product, such as different shades of lipstick and different scents of a shampoo.
Cosmetics product notification is not required for the following products. However, you still need to comply with other requirements, such as labeling, ingredients, and adverse event reporting:
- Sample products connected with advertising, sponsorship, or promotional activities.
- Products used for testing or trial in connection with any research or development of that product.
- Products manufactured by or in accordance with the specifications of a medical practitioner and supplied solely by that medical practitioner for the use of patients under his care.
- Different pack sizes of the same product.
Responsibilities of the company
The key responsibilities of the notification handling company are as follows:
- As a seller of cosmetic products, you are responsible for the safety and quality of your products. Cosmetic products should not contain adulterants or prohibited substances and you should not breach the limits for specified substances.
- You must maintain records of supply of the cosmetic products for two years.
- You must submit safety and technical information when requested by HSA.
- Monitor and report adverse events and recalls to us as soon as possible.
- Recall the product if the product is found to have any safety concerns.
Cosmetics Ingredients and PIF
Before the notification, you should check that the ingredients in the cosmetic product comply with the requirements stated in the “Annexes of ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)”.
Safety Assessment Report on the formulation of your cosmetic product is a required document in your Product Information File (PIF). If you are already doing the EU cosmetic notification, similar materials in English shall be applicable for Singapore Cosmetics Notification.
Labeling requirements
The following details should appear on the outer packaging or on the immediate packaging of cosmetic products if there is no outer packaging. The details must be listed in English. Information in other languages, if any, may be used in addition to English and should be the same as the English version.
- The name of the cosmetic product and its function, unless it is clear from the presentation of the product.
- Instructions on the use of the cosmetic product, unless it is clear from the product name or presentation.
- A full ingredient listing declared in descending order of weight at the time they are added.
- Perfume and aromatic compositions and their raw materials may be referred to by the words “perfume”, “fragrance”, “aroma” or “flavor”.
- Ingredients in concentrations of less than 1% may be listed in any order after those of a concentration of more than 1%.
- Colouring agents may be listed in any order after the other ingredients, in accordance with the color index number or denomination adopted in Annex IV.
- For decorative cosmetic products marketed in several color shades, all coloring agents used in the range may be listed, provided that the terms “may contain” or “+/-“ be added.
- The ingredients shall be specified using the nomenclature from the latest edition of standard references (refer to appendix A).
- Botanicals and extracts of botanicals should be identified by their genus and species. The genus may be abbreviated.
- Country of manufacture.
- The name and address of the company or person responsible for placing the product on the local market.
- The contents are given by weight or volume, in either metric or both metric and imperial system.
- The manufacturer’s batch number.
- The manufacturing or the expiry date of the product in clear terms. The date shall be clearly expressed and shall consist of the day (if applicable), month and year, in that order.
- The date of minimum durability shall be the date until which this product, stored under appropriate conditions, continues to fulfill its initial function. It should be preceded by the words “expiry date” or “best before”.
- Indication of the expiry date shall be mandatory for cosmetic products the minimum durability of which is less than 30 months.
- Special precautions to be observed in use, especially those listed in the column “Conditions of use and warnings” in annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (Updated July 2019), which must appear on the label as well as any special precautionary information on the cosmetic products.
- Member countries may require specific warnings based on local needs for declaration of ingredients from animal origin. In this case:
- There must be a statement (of any format) on the product label signaling the presence of ingredients of animal origin.
- For ingredients of bovine or porcine origin, the exact animal must be declared.
- Member countries may require specific warnings based on local needs for declaration of ingredients from animal origin. In this case:
Note: The following are not regarded as ingredients:
- Impurities in the raw materials used.
- Subsidiary technical materials used in the preparation but not present in the final products.
- Materials used in strictly necessary quantities as solvents, or as carriers, for perfume and aromatic compositions.
If the size, shape or nature of the container or package does not permit the particulars above to be displayed, the use of leaflets, pamphlets, hang tags, display panel, shrink wrap, etc. is allowed. However, the following particulars at least should appear on small immediate packaging:
- Name of the cosmetic product.
- Manufacturer’s batch number.
Access ASEAN Cosmetics Regulatory Database. ->
Access Singapore Cosmetics Regulatory Database. ->
 under the Regulation: Health Products Act and ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. Cosmetics Notification is required before exporting cosmetics to Singapore.){kind=link}