Regulatory Expertise
EU Cosmetic Compliance
Placing cosmetics on the EU market under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: the Annex I CPSR, an EU-established Responsible Person, CPNP notification and the claims rules. Cosmetics are not CE-marked.
The European Union regulates cosmetics under a single instrument, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, which applies across all member states. Four elements have to be in place before a product is placed on the market.
The four pillars
A Cosmetic Product Safety Report under Annex I, in its two parts; a complete Product Information File under Article 11; notification through the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) under Article 13; and a Responsible Person established within the Union under Articles 4 and 5. Labelling follows Article 19 and claims follow Article 20 with Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013. The substance annexes are revised regularly, most recently by the second Omnibus act, Regulation (EU) 2026/909. We act as your EU Responsible Person through our company registered in the Republic of Ireland.
A clarification worth making
Cosmetics are not CE-marked. The CE mark applies to product categories such as toys, electronics and medical devices, not to cosmetics. A cosmetic shows compliance through its safety report, its notification and its Responsible Person, never a CE mark, and any supplier suggesting a cosmetic “needs a CE mark” has misunderstood the regime.
Relevant services
Responsible Person
From £149 · per product, per year
Oxford Biosciences acts as your Responsible Person in the UK and the EU under a single quality management system, holding the regulatory obligation: PIF maintenance, SCPN and CPNP notification, labelling oversight, and cosmetovigilance.
Learn more →CPSR
From £70 · 2 to 3 days
The Cosmetic Product Safety Report is the safety assessment required under Article 10 and Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 before a cosmetic product may be placed on the UK or EU market. Prepared and signed by a qualified safety assessor.
Learn more →Labelling
From £195 · from receipt of artwork
Independent review of packaging artwork against Article 19, and of product claims against the six Common Criteria of Regulation (EU) 655/2013. Label review £195; per-claim review from £125; substantiation dossiers from £1,495.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
What is a Responsible Person?
Every cosmetic product placed on the EU or UK market must have a Responsible Person established within that jurisdiction. Under Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, the Responsible Person is the legal entity that holds the regulatory obligation for the product: it maintains the Product Information File, makes the CPNP or SCPN notification, oversees labelling, and handles cosmetovigilance and contact with the competent authority. It is not simply a postal address. Oxford Biosciences acts as Responsible Person in both the UK and the EU under a single quality management system.
What is a CPSR?
A Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) is the safety assessment required by Article 10 and Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 before a cosmetic product is placed on the UK or EU market. Annex I sets out two parts: Part A, the cosmetic product safety information (composition, physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics, stability, exposure and the toxicological profile of each substance), and Part B, the safety assessment, in which a qualified assessor states and reasons the conclusion on safety. It is the pivotal scientific document held within the Product Information File.
What must appear on a cosmetic label?
Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 sets out the mandatory particulars: the Responsible Person's name and address, the nominal content, the date of minimum durability or the period-after-opening (PAO) symbol, precautions for use, the batch number, the product function, and the list of ingredients in INCI nomenclature. In Great Britain the same requirements apply through the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013, and since 1 January 2026 the UK Responsible Person's details must appear on the label of products sold in GB. Oxford Biosciences reviews packaging artwork against these requirements for £195.
Do cosmetics need a CE or UKCA mark?
No. Cosmetics do not carry CE or UKCA marks. Those conformity marks apply to other product groups such as electronics, toys, machinery, personal protective equipment and medical devices, not to cosmetics. In the EU a cosmetic demonstrates compliance through a Cosmetic Product Safety Report under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, notification on the CPNP, and an EU Responsible Person. In Great Britain it is the same evidence under the UK Cosmetics Regulation, notified through the SCPN with a UK-based Responsible Person. If a supplier or manufacturer tells you a cosmetic needs a CE or UKCA mark, they have confused cosmetics with a different product category. Oxford Biosciences prepares the safety report, notification and Responsible Person designation that actually establish cosmetic compliance.