Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration in India: Complete COS-5 & COS-8 Guide (2026)

• Application: File Form COS-5 (or COS-6 for a loan license) with your State Licensing Authority through the SUGAM portal.
• Approval: The State Licensing Authority grants the manufacturing license in Form COS-8 (or COS-9 for a loan license) within 45 days of document verification.
• Validity: COS-8 remains valid until cancelled, provided the retention fee is paid every 5 years; a GMP inspection follows within 30 days of grant.
• Coverage: Applies to every cosmetic and makeup category under the Fourth Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 — up to 10 items per category on one license.

Introduction

Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration is the mandatory State-level approval under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 to legally manufacture cosmetics and makeup in India. Applicants file Form COS-5 (Form COS-6 for a loan license) with their State Licensing Authority on the SUGAM portal, along with a GMP self-declaration in Form COS-7.

After document scrutiny, the license is granted in Form COS-8 (Form COS-9 for a loan license), usually within 45 days, followed by a site inspection within 30 days. The license has no fixed expiry — it stays valid as long as the 5-year retention fee is paid on time.

What Is Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration?

Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration is the regulatory approval every domestic manufacturer needs before formulating, filling, or packing creams, lotions, shampoos, soaps, lipsticks, foundations, nail polish, deodorants, or any other cosmetic product in India. It is governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, and administered at the state level by the State Licensing Authority (also called the State Drug Controller), not by CDSCO headquarters. This is different from cosmetic import registration, which is handled centrally by CDSCO through Forms COS-1 and COS-2.

The manufacturing approval works through a simple two-form structure:

• Form COS-5 — the application filed by the manufacturer to obtain a license for its own manufacturing premises.
• Form COS-8 — the manufacturing license certificate granted by the State Licensing Authority after review and inspection.
• Form COS-6 / COS-9 — the equivalent application and license for manufacturers who use a third party's approved premises (loan license route).

COS-5 vs COS-8 (and the Loan License Route)

Form COS-5: Application for Grant of Cosmetic Manufacturing License

Form COS-5 is the primary application for a license to manufacture cosmetics for sale or distribution in India, filed on the SUGAM portal with the concerned State Licensing Authority. One COS-5 license can cover up to 10 items within a single cosmetic category; each additional category requires a separate declaration and fee.

Who Should File COS-5

• Entrepreneurs and companies setting up a new cosmetic manufacturing unit in India.
• Existing FMCG or pharma manufacturers adding a cosmetics/makeup production line.
• Private-label and contract manufacturers producing skincare, haircare, or makeup for other brands.
• Manufacturers expanding into new cosmetic categories not covered by an existing license.

Eligibility Requirements for COS-5

• Manufacturing premises must meet the Seventh Schedule GMP norms of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (space, water supply, ventilation, equipment, storage, and quality-control area).
• A qualified technical/competent person must supervise production — typically a Diploma or Degree holder in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Cosmetic Technology, or an equivalent qualification recognised under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
• An in-house or approved third-party quality-control facility capable of testing raw materials and finished products against the Ninth Schedule / BIS specifications.
• A functional Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) system for batch manufacturing, labelling, and record-keeping.

Documents Required for COS-5

• Duly filled Form COS-5 application with the prescribed fee challan.
• Self-declaration of Good Manufacturing Practice compliance in Form COS-7.
• Site plan/layout of the manufacturing premises, including production, storage, and QC areas.
• List of plant and machinery installed at the premises.
• Qualification and appointment proof of the technical/competent person and other key staff.
• Product-wise formulation, specifications, and Fourth Schedule category mapping for every cosmetic/makeup product to be manufactured.
• Proof of ownership or lease of the manufacturing premises.
• Constitution documents of the firm (partnership deed, MOA/AOA, or proprietorship proof) and GST/IEC registration.
• Undertaking as specified in Part-II of the Second Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.

Step-by-Step COS-5 Application Process

• Set up the manufacturing unit as per Seventh Schedule GMP requirements.
• Appoint a qualified technical/competent person to oversee production and quality control.
• Register on the SUGAM portal and select the cosmetic manufacturing license category.
• Map every planned product/variant to its correct Fourth Schedule category.
• Complete Form COS-5 (Form COS-6 if using a loan/leased facility) and attach Form COS-7.
• Pay the prescribed fee under the Third Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
• Submit the application with all supporting documents to the State Licensing Authority.
• Respond promptly to any deficiency memo or clarification query raised by the authority.
• Receive the manufacturing license in Form COS-8 (or COS-9) once the review is complete.
• Prepare the site for the mandatory GMP inspection within 30 days of license grant.

Form COS-8: Grant of Cosmetic Manufacturing License

Form COS-8 is the actual manufacturing license certificate issued by the State Licensing Authority once it is satisfied with the COS-5 application, supporting documents, and GMP self-declaration. It is the legal permit that allows a company to manufacture and sell cosmetics under its own manufacturing license number, which must be printed on every product label as “Mfg. Lic. No.”

What Happens After COS-8 Is Granted

• Upload the granted license to the CDSCO/SUGAM portal for public transparency, then commence production.
• The State Licensing Authority (or a designated officer) inspects the premises within 30 days of license grant to verify the Form COS-7 self-declaration.
• If the self-certification is found false, the license can be cancelled; if minor deficiencies are found, production may be directed to stop until they are corrected.
• If no inspection happens within 30 days, the license is deemed valid for all purposes.
• Every licensed manufacturing site is inspected at least once every 3 years thereafter.

Validity, Retention & Renewal of COS-8

• Validity: The manufacturing license (COS-8) has no fixed expiry date — it remains valid permanently as long as the retention fee is paid every 5 years.
• Retention fee: Due every 5 years from the date of grant; non-payment on time does not immediately cancel the license.
• Grace period: The retention fee can still be paid within 180 days of the due date, but a late fee of 2% per month applies.
• Endorsement of new products: New makeup/cosmetic SKUs or categories can usually be added to an existing COS-8 license through a portal-based endorsement rather than a fresh COS-5 filing.
• Cancellation: The State Licensing Authority can suspend or cancel COS-8 for non-compliance with GMP, labelling, or safety-standard conditions.

Cosmetic Loan License: Form COS-6 and Form COS-9

Brand owners who do not have their own manufacturing facility — a common model for makeup and skincare startups — can manufacture through a third-party factory using the loan license route. The application is filed in Form COS-6, and the license is granted in Form COS-9 by the State Licensing Authority where the borrowed premises is located. The process, timeline (45 days), GMP requirements, and retention-fee structure mirror the COS-5/COS-8 route, except the manufacturing site belongs to another licensed manufacturer.

Cosmetic & Makeup Products You Can Manufacture Under a COS-8 License

A single COS-8 license can cover multiple cosmetic and makeup categories under the Fourth Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, as long as each is declared with its formulation and specifications at the time of application or endorsement.

Benefits of Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration

• Legal manufacturing rights — COS-8 is the only document that legally permits cosmetic production for sale or distribution in India.
• Retailer and marketplace approval — organized retail chains and e-commerce platforms require a valid manufacturing license number before listing a product.
• Consumer and B2B trust — a printed Mfg. Lic. No. signals GMP compliance to buyers, distributors, and export partners.
• No fixed expiry — unlike the 5-year import registration, COS-8 stays valid indefinitely, subject only to the 5-year retention fee.
• Flexibility to scale — new products can typically be added to an existing license through endorsement instead of a completely fresh application.
• Export readiness — a valid domestic manufacturing license strengthens Free Sale Certificate applications when exporting cosmetics abroad.

Eligibility, Requirements & Compliance Checklist

Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration Fees

Fees are prescribed under the Third Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, and are payable through the Bharatkosh gateway on the SUGAM portal.

Validity, Renewal & Approval Timeline

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration

• Applying for COS-5 before the manufacturing premises fully meets Seventh Schedule GMP norms, leading to inspection failure.
• Not appointing a qualified technical/competent person before filing, which is one of the most common reasons for rejection.
• Mis-mapping a makeup or skincare product to the wrong Fourth Schedule category, causing avoidable queries.
• Starting production before receiving Form COS-8, which is an offence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
• Missing the 5-year retention fee deadline and accumulating late fees instead of renewing on time.
• Failing to declare new manufacturing sites or product categories separately — each site or category needs its own disclosure and fee.
• Ignoring labelling requirements under Chapter VI of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 even after the license is granted.

Conclusion

Cosmetic Manufacturing License Registration is the foundation of legal cosmetic production in India, and getting COS-5 and COS-8 right the first time saves months of avoidable delay. Success comes down to three things: a Seventh Schedule GMP-compliant facility, a qualified technical person on record, and accurate Fourth Schedule categorization of every product you plan to manufacture.

Whether you're building your own factory or using a loan license, working with an experienced cosmetic regulatory consultant can help you avoid the documentation gaps that most often trigger State Licensing Authority queries.

Frequently Asked Questions