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Responsible Person

Responsible Person for EU & UK Cosmetics

The Responsible Person is legally required for cosmetic products placed on the EU and UK markets. Products cannot be legally placed on the relevant market without a designated Responsible Person established in that jurisdiction.

International cosmetic brands entering the EU and UK markets

Legal requirement

  • Required under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 for the EU.
  • Required under UK Cosmetics Regulation for Great Britain.
  • Applies to cosmetic products placed on the market.
  • Responsible Person must be established in the respective jurisdiction.

Core obligations

  • Compliance verification.
  • Product Information File availability and maintenance.
  • Authority communication.
  • Corrective actions where required.
  • Traceability and market surveillance support.

When a Responsible Person is required

  • Non-EU manufacturers placing cosmetics on the EU market.
  • Companies placing cosmetics on the UK market.
  • Importers and distributors acting as market operators.
  • Any company placing cosmetic products on the market under its own name or brand.

Regulatory risk without Responsible Person

  • Product cannot be legally placed on the market.
  • No legally designated regulatory contact point.
  • Increased enforcement risk.
  • Missing or inaccessible compliance documentation.

EU and UK note

The EU and UK require separate market arrangements. An EU Responsible Person does not automatically cover the UK, and a UK Responsible Person does not automatically cover the EU.

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Prepare your product data for review

Send the INCI or formulation, product type, intended market, label artwork where available, and raw-material information where available.

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