Cosmetic Compliance in North Africa
Cosmetic compliance in North Africa, where Egypt (EDA, under Law 151/2019) and Morocco operate national frameworks closely modelled on EU cosmetic law. An EU-compliant dossier is a strong basis for entry.
Regulatory framework
- Regulator
- Egyptian Drug Authority (Egypt); Ministry of Health pharmacy directorate (Morocco)
- Primary regulation
- National frameworks closely modelled on EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
- Notification
- EDA EgyCosm notification (Egypt); national registration (Morocco and others)
- Region
- Middle East & Africa
A region without a single framework
North Africa has no harmonised regional scheme, but its two largest markets both build closely on EU cosmetic law, which works in favour of any brand already assessed for Europe. Each country requires its own registration or notification and a local importer or representative.
Egypt
The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), operating under Law No. 151 of 2019, is the primary regulator. A cosmetic must be notified through the EDA’s EgyCosm electronic platform and assigned a notification number before it can be imported or sold; the number is issued within about ten working days, or three on the fast track. The ingredient framework is largely aligned with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, adopting its five annexes (the prohibited, restricted, colorant, preservative and UV filter lists), and the EDA supplements these through its Regulatory Guide for Cosmetics Notification (2023) and its Claims Guide (2025). Labelling is in Arabic, and import control involves the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) alongside the EDA notification.
Morocco
In Morocco cosmetics are registered through the health ministry’s pharmacy and medicines directorate, on a framework that takes the EU annexes as its reference for permitted and restricted ingredients. As in Egypt, the closeness to EU rules means an EU dossier transfers well, with the work falling on the national registration formalities and local-language documentation rather than the underlying science.
Algeria, Tunisia and Libya
The remaining markets each run their own national registration regimes. They are less closely documented and more variable in practice, so each should be confirmed individually before relying on a particular route.
How Oxford Biosciences helps
Because these frameworks borrow heavily from EU rules, an EU-compliant dossier is a strong starting point. The work is to map the existing safety evidence onto the national requirement, prepare the Arabic labelling and notification documentation, and support the local representative in each market. North African engagements are quoted on application.
Our services for North Africa
Global Markets
From £149
Cosmetic regulatory documentation for markets beyond the EU and UK: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN, the GCC and Latin America, prepared from the same evidence base by the assessor who signs our CPSRs.
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 →Frequently asked questions
Which international markets does Oxford Biosciences cover?
Beyond the EU and UK, Oxford Biosciences prepares the United States MoCRA Toxicological Risk Assessment (£395), the Canadian Health Canada Cosmetic Notification (£395), the Australian AICIS Compliance Statement (£149), the New Zealand EPA Group Standard Compliance Statement (£179), and the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Documentation Package (£249), with GCC and Latin American markets (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile) quoted on application. Where markets share an evidence base, a single Product Information File carries the jurisdiction-specific annexes rather than requiring a separate dossier for each.