Cosmetic
Manufacturing
Licence India
Complete end-to-end support for obtaining a Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence — mandatory for every company manufacturing skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics, fragrances and oral care products in India under ISO 22716 GMP compliance.
What is a Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence?
A Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence is a statutory state-level approval permitting a company to legally manufacture and sell cosmetic products in India. No company can commercially produce cosmetics without it.
Legal Mandate
Manufacturing cosmetics for commercial sale without a valid licence is a criminal offence under the D&C Act. Every facility producing cosmetics — from small artisan studios to large industrial plants — must hold a valid state-issued licence before any commercial production.
ISO 22716 GMP Compliance Required
The factory must comply with Good Manufacturing Practice for cosmetics (ISO 22716). The State Drug Inspector verifies premises, equipment qualification, QC systems, documentation and Qualified Person credentials during the site inspection.
Qualified Person — Mandatory
A Qualified Person (QP) with a relevant degree in pharmacy, chemistry or science with industry experience must be appointed and present during operations. The QP is personally responsible for product release and GMP compliance.
Category-Based Endorsements
Each cosmetic category — skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics, fragrances, oral care, baby cosmetics — requires a separate licence endorsement. The licence is premises-specific and tied to the physical factory address.
Types of Cosmetic Manufacturing Licences
From full factory owners to contract brands and importers who repack — we handle every type of cosmetic manufacturing licence across all Indian states.
Full Licence⏱ 3–9 monthsPrimary licence for companies with their own GMP-compliant manufacturing facility. Covers all approved cosmetic categories after Drug Inspector site verification. Requires dedicated areas, equipment, QP and complete QMS.
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Loan Licence⏱ 3–6 monthsYour brand holds the licence; production happens at a licensed contract manufacturer's facility. Ideal for beauty startups, indie brands and D2C companies launching without their own factory investment.
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Repacking⏱ 2–4 monthsFor companies importing bulk cosmetics and repacking into consumer units, or applying Indian labels before distribution. Requires a dedicated repacking area and separate licence endorsement from the State Drug Controller.
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AYUSH⏱ 3–6 monthsFor manufacturing Ayurvedic beauty products under Schedule T GMP norms — issued by the State AYUSH Department. Separate from the allopathic cosmetic licence with distinct qualified person requirements.
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Category Add⏱ 2–4 monthsExisting licence holders adding new product categories — e.g., adding colour cosmetics to a licence currently covering only skincare. Each category requires dedicated equipment and a separate Drug Inspector verification visit.
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Renewal⏱ 30–60 daysAnnual renewal before expiry, Qualified Person change, premises expansion, ownership change. We track all renewal deadlines and file 60 days in advance — zero licence lapses, zero manufacturing interruptions.
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"GMP compliance for cosmetics is verified at every factory inspection — no licence without it."
— Cosmetics Rules, 2020 · Govt. of IndiaWhat the Inspector Checks
Every item below is assessed during the factory inspection. Deficiencies become NCRs that delay your licence — our pre-inspection mock audit eliminates them.
Premises & Layout
Dedicated zones for manufacturing, QC, warehouse, quarantine and utilities. Controlled access, airlock systems, HVAC and pest control to prevent contamination between product categories.
Equipment Qualification
All manufacturing and QC equipment must be qualified (IQ/OQ/PQ), calibrated with valid in-date certificates and maintained under a preventive maintenance programme.
Qualified Person & Staff Training
QP must hold relevant degree with experience. All production and QC staff must have documented GMP training records with regular refresher training.
SOPs & Batch Records
SOPs for every critical operation, current and approved by QP. Batch Manufacturing Records (BMR) completed in real-time. Change control, deviation management and CAPA systems in place.
How to Get a Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence
Our 6-step process takes your factory from gap analysis through GMP inspection to licence grant — with mock audits, SOP library and full NCR support included.
We review your cosmetic factory against ISO 22716 GMP requirements — identifying infrastructure, equipment, personnel and documentation gaps before any filing. Prevents rejection at the inspection stage and gives you a clear corrective action plan.
Documents Required for the Licence
A cosmetic manufacturing licence dossier covers company, factory, personnel and technical documents. Select a tab to view the complete checklist.
Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence — Fees & Timelines
Government fees vary by state, product category and scale. Below is an indicative guide — we provide exact state-specific quotes on request.
| Licence / Service | Authority | Approx. Govt. Fee | Validity | Timeline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Manufacturing Licence | State Drug Controller | ₹ 3,000 – ₹ 25,000 | 5 years | 3–9 months | Own factory |
| Loan / Contract Licence | State Drug Controller | ₹ 2,000 – ₹ 15,000 | 5 years | 3–6 months | No own factory |
| Repacking / Relabelling | State Drug Controller | ₹ 2,000 – ₹ 10,000 | 5 years | 2–4 months | Endorsement |
| AYUSH Cosmetic Licence | State AYUSH Dept. | ₹ 2,000 – ₹ 12,000 | 5 years | 3–6 months | AYUSH Dept. |
| Annual Renewal | State Drug Controller | ₹ 1,000 – ₹ 10,000 | 5 years | 30–60 days | Before expiry |
| Category Endorsement | State Drug Controller | ₹ 1,000 – ₹ 8,000 | Co-terminus | 2–4 months | Amendment |
| QP / Premises Change | State Drug Controller | ₹ 500 – ₹ 3,000 | N/A | 15–45 days | Amendment |
Critical GMP Compliance Areas
Drug Inspectors conduct announced and surprise visits. These 8 areas are most frequently cited in cosmetic factory NCRs — keep them in perfect order at all times.
All SOPs must be current, approved by QP and reviewed annually. Expired or unsigned SOPs are the #1 cosmetic factory NCR finding across all states.
BMR must be completed in real-time for every batch — no post-hoc entries. Incomplete batch records attract regulatory action and product recall orders.
All QC instruments must be calibrated on schedule. Expired calibration certificates at inspection time lead to immediate NCR and potential product hold.
In-process testing (viscosity, pH, colour, microbial) at defined stages must be conducted and recorded. All results must be within approved specification limits.
Any change to ingredients, suppliers, equipment or processes must go through formal change control. Unauthorised changes invalidate GMP compliance and may void licence conditions.
Manufacturing and storage areas must maintain appropriate temperature and humidity. Cold chain for temperature-sensitive products. Daily environmental monitoring with documented logs.
All products must remain Schedule S compliant after licence grant. New suppliers or formulation changes must be re-screened against the current Schedule S list before production.
Ongoing stability studies required for all product categories. Shelf-life claims must be supported by real stability data. Retain stability samples from every manufactured batch.
India's Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence Specialists
150+ cosmetic manufacturing licences granted across every Indian state — from artisan skincare startups to multi-category industrial beauty brands.
ISO 22716 Mock Audit & GMP Readiness
A complete pre-inspection audit and full mock Drug Inspector visit — closing every gap before the real inspection. Our 92% first-attempt pass rate demonstrates the results of thorough preparation.
60+ SOP Library — Ready to Customise
Our cosmetic GMP SOP library covers manufacturing, QC, warehouse, hygiene and change control. Dramatically reduces documentation prep time — inspector-ready SOPs from day one.
Schedule S Pre-Compliance for All Formulations
Every formulation is reviewed against current Schedule S before filing. We identify and resolve ingredient compliance issues before they become licence rejection reasons.
All-State Drug Controller Knowledge
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, UP, Rajasthan and 22+ more — each state's specific requirements, fees and inspector preferences are built into our process.
Cosmetic Manufacturing Licence — FAQs
Answers to the most common questions from cosmetic entrepreneurs, beauty brands, contract manufacturers and startups about the manufacturing licence process in India.
Launch Your Cosmetic Brand
— Get Licensed Today
Book a free consultation. We assess your factory, product categories and QP credentials — and give you a clear, transparent roadmap to your licence at zero cost.